Recently Pope Francis, the head of the Catholic Church, stated that evolution and the Big Bang theory do not contradict the beliefs of the Church.

Here, in Montgomery County, Maryland, this may seem like a no-brainer and that the Pope is late to the party. However, this idea has played much bigger roles in other parts of the country where rejecting evolution in any way, shape, or form has traditionally been viewed as a sign of one’s own faith.

Culturally, this is a big deal. Even though the Papacy is not as politically involved or influential on policy as it was at one time, the position remains an important modern-day religious and social figure to many people. As a result, the Pope’s clearing-the-air on the Catholic Church’s stance on evolution has reaffirmed some people’s beliefs and completely turned around those of others. The overall statement revolves around the idea that God creates the human soul and that evolution occurs as part of His vision.

Believe it or not, Pope Francis is not the first Pope to publically express this opinion. In 1950, Pope Pius XII proclaimed that there was no opposition between evolution and the Church. The other cardinals of the Catholic Church agreed with this statement but added that human souls are directly created by God. Even though the spread of information was limited at that time, the message did not create as much of a stir as Pope Francis’ comments.

With today’s level of technology, especially social media, more people heard or read Pope Francis’ comments. As the overall exposure increased, so did the buzz it created. Of course, social media is a doubled-edged sword. All of the extra attention social media brings can often stir up trouble. Pope Francis’ comments brought forth immediate response from both supporters and detractors.

The validity of evolution is a hot topic with certain sects of Christianity, including Southern Baptists. One Southern Baptist website, “The Institution for Creation,” responded to the Pope’s statement on evolution saying, “At least four scientific observations refute evolution…including fossils, changes in living creatures, genetic entropy, and ‘all-or-nothing’ design.”

Pope Francis came into the Papacy under unusual circumstances. The previous Pope, Pope Benedict XVI, left the Papacy voluntarily rather than staying in office until death. He felt that he could no longer meet the demands of the office. When Pope Benedict XVI “retired” from the papacy, the Church elected its first South American Pope when they chose the 76-year-old Argentinian.

Already a nontraditional Pope, Pope Francis is risking his popularity and, perhaps, alienating some of his 1.22 billion followers with his new and even somewhat progressive leadership. However, this Pope seems to take a stand on issues that affect not only the Catholic Church but also the world. He understands that his significant role could lead to some innovative thinking and changes in the Catholic Church and the world.