Barack Obama

That's one thing that strikes me about Pope Francis: he seems to be a happy man. He's not the abstemious, finger-wagging scold we've come to expect from the Papacy. John Paul II didn't seem to be a martinet, and had gravitas and dignity to spare, but he was still an ultra-conservative pillar of the Catholic establishment. About Benedict, the less said, the better.


But Francis seems to radiate joy and serenity. Christians of all flavors often speak of the joy they receive from their faith. And the Pope seems to reflect that. He has the Papacy Pope John Paul I should have had. There was another serene, compassionate man who seemed to derive joy from his faith, and from serving others. His Papacy was tragically short.

It's good to see two dynamic progressive leaders together.