The first non-European pope in more than 1,000 years was connected to the abduction of two Jesuit priests and has called the Argentine government’s legalization of gay marriage “an attempt to destroy God’s plan.”

Ernesto Seman, a historian at New York University and former reporter for two Argentine newspapers, and Argentine journalist Horacio Verbitsky discuss the social conservatism of Pope Francis — formerly Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio — on “Democracy Now!” Verbitsky talks about the pope’s role in Argentina’s past military dictatorship, and Tom Roberts, editor-at-large at the National Catholic Reporter, reviews the man’s reputation for being devoted to the poor.

— Posted by Alexander Reed Kelly.

‘Democracy Now!’:

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