First American pope elected and will be known as Pope Leo XIV

The whole Catholic aesthetic is amazing. Really is the tops.

When you're under its thumb of oppression, all of the aesthetic takes on a very dark and sinister authoritarian tone and becomes symbolic of a lifetime of repression and coercion. Source: raised by an extremely abusive Catholic deacon.

When you're embraced by its grace, all of the aesthetic takes on a very bright and uplifting inspirational tone and becomes symbolic of a lifetime of guidance and empowerment. Source: raised by an extremely loving Catholic mother.

My enjoyment of things is somewhat diminished by knowing that the thing engages in a vast conspiracy to commit and conceal abuse worldwide.

My faith in Christ is way stronger than the influence of a small group of crooked and virtueless human beings.

Even if 9 out of 10 of cardinals, priests and worshippers were crooked, my faith in Christ wouldn't move one inch (2.54cm); it might actually become even greater.

I think there is a profound difference on how two different kinds of people approach religion.

On one side, I've never given much care to what the "social opinion" of something is in order to engage with it or not. My choice to follow Christ is rooted on myself, not on what I'm told to be right or wrong.

On the other, I can understand people who choose to associate/dissociate from specific groups/trends based on what they hear on the news/radio/etc... and I think that's completely valid as well. There was a even time in our past where having this trait was a desirable thing!