Tuesday’s Religion News Roundup: Papal Inaugural * Atheists’ Lent * Onward Mormon Women

Pope Francis is officially installed today. Who says an atheist can't celebrate Lent? And Mormon women, for the first time in 183 years, will offer prayers at the General Conference.

It took about 48 hours since he was chosen for the  image of Pope Francis, whose installation is today, to begin to appear in paintings, on rosaries and postcards.
Photo courtesy of faithmouse via flckr.

 

It took about 48 hours since he was chosen for the  image of Pope Francis, whose installation is today, to begin to appear in paintings, on rosaries and postcards. Photo courtesy of faithmouse via flckr.

It took about 48 hours since he was chosen for the image of Pope Francis, whose installation is today, to begin to appear in paintings, on rosaries and postcards.
Photo courtesy of faithmouse via flckr.

Pope Francis was officially installed early this morning.


It’s already clear that it’s not going to be business as usual around the Vatican. David Gibson reports.

Here’s one thing Pope Francis will not change: his Argentine coat of arms (with its very prominent Jesuit symbol.)

The whole Argentine thing makes some Italians, who had their hearts set on an Italian pope, cranky.

But a new pope means brisk business for Italian hoteliers, restaurant owners and souvenir makers who are happily counting their lira.

How did this pope come to be pope? Here’s the story behind the story despite the fact that everything that happens in the conclave is supposed to stay in the conclave.

Omar Sacirbey explains how Pope Francis may have a model for engagement with Muslims in St. Francis of Assisi.

Mark Silk gives us seven reasons to like this new pope. Number 2: No more Prada.

A lot of people seem to like Francis. He’s got 4 million Twitter followers.

Three quarters of American Catholics say they’re happy with the new pope.

Onward Mormon women? Apparently for the first time in 183 years, Mormon women will get to offer prayers at next month’s General Conference.


What would an “atheist Lent” look like? Kimberly Winston reports on young nonbelievers who are adopting the Christian practice minus its religious context.

Jana Riess is flunking Lent.

The producers of the History Channel’s The Bible are denying the devil character was meant to look like President Obama.

Obama begins his first trip to Israel and the Occupied Territories tomorrow with an itinerary that is laden with cultural and historical stops, each designed to check a different diplomatic box.

The suspected murderer of former Wall Street journalist Daniel Pearl is nabbed in Pakistan.

A former Pennsylvania pastor gets life in prison for bludgeoning his wife to death.

Mumford and Sons is a hot band and not Christian per se but appealing to many for its seemingly Christian-inspired lyrics. But now its frontman tells Rolling Stone: “I’ve kind of separated myself from the culture of Christianity.”

– Lauren Markoe

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