Pope Francis has already broken from the tradition of the Catholic Church with his statements in support of gay men and women, and the beliefs of non-Christians.

His moves have earned him the distinction of Time's "Man of The Year," and earlier this week he made another big change that signals a desire to distance the church from ultra-conservative factions.

On Monday he removed two American Cardinals from the Vatican's powerful Congregation for Bishops and appointed Cardinal Donald Wuerl, who by some accounts is less orthodox than his predecessors.

For more we turn to Christopher Kaczor, professor of philosophy at Loyola Marymount University.