What do you think about the new Pope?

I heard Pope Francis said yesterday “who am I to judge” regarding a question about gay people. I don’t know much about this Pope, and thought jellies could give me their opinion about him and maybe some information about his history and how you think he will affect the church.

Please state your religion when you answer. If you are Catholic I am interested to know how much impact you feel a Pope really has on influencing change in how Catholics think. I realize many many Catholics, the majority of Catholics I know, do not try to impose their religion on others, and on many of the hot topics in America like gay marriage, birth control, and even abortion, they vote with the liberals. But, for Catholics who have aligned themselves with conservatives, do you think the Pope’s statement today will change their mind about gay marriage and being gay in general? Or, do you think the Pope’s statement just helps thos Catholics who already were accepting of gay people now can just feel they are not going against the church.