The Telegraph thought the choice of the Archbishop of Buenos Aires was "inspiring", though it did point out that he is ageing, has one lung and is a conservative on moral issues.
In America, George Bush has surprised Europeans by showing that it is possible to win elections by focusing more on moral issues and less on monetary ones.
The other day I took a personality quiz and one of the questions was, "Do you compromise on moral issues?" (often, occasionally, rarely, never).
But should religious viewpoints, even on moral issues, have any role in our political debate?
"On moral issues, I don't think he's any better than Davis, Dr. Davidsonn said.
This is the party that rode to majority on "moral issues".
Yet, time and again, they can't seem to help themselves by refocusing instead on moral issues.
But Mr Osborne is more liberal on moral issues such as abortion and gay rights than on law and order.
"Breaking Faith" dwells primarily on the United States and Western Europe, where battles focus more on moral issues.
He has stern views on moral issues; but this Princeton and Oxford-educated preacher can happily discuss the Indian economy and the flat tax.
When people are asked to identify themselves by political ideology, Americans may appear to be center-right, but independents look more like Democrats than Republicans on moral issues.
