In my modest opinion, the forgiveness, which is the most distinctive trait of Catholicism compared to Protestantism (and even more so Hebraism), makes of it a really progressive religion, even revolutionary, compared to the old Testament especially. It is true that the Catholicism is more conservative on some aspects (like the prohibition for priests to marry), but seeing the Pope sitting next to the man who tried to kill him, Agca, who is an active Muslim fundamentalist, and taking his hand, is the most revolutionary image that I ever saw from any religion, and I have yet to see another religion's leader to do something equally revolutionary. It is there -in the understanding of the different and the forgiveness of those who hurted us- that lies a hope for the humanity, if there is any. All of this, of course, in my humble opinion.