>>>> He was NOT on the list of those considered “papabili” by the media and Vatican watchers. Francis was a surprise choice and the cardinals outfoxed every one. He won on the fifth ballot. <<<<
Yep. Huge upset. Whoever bet money on this is probably really happy how. The interesting thing to me is he was actually the "runner up" in the 2005 conclave, but NOBODY had him on their short list this time... mainly because he was considered "too old" at age 76 and it was assumed the Cardinals would go with a man in his early 60s after Popes John Paul II and Benedict XVI. (though even Cardinal Arinze, at age 80, was higher up on the list) Just goes to show you the media don't know what their talking about with their "papabili" lists of who "Vatican insiders and Roman Curia" are supposedly looking at. Either their sources were wrong or the Cardinals shifted dramatically in another direction once the conclave started.
I was telling kids on Monday night they should pay attention to the conclave because it might be 20-30 years before we get another Pope. D'oh!
The one thing they got right is saying they were likely to choose a South American (worked with the latest olympics bid predictions too!) I was concerned a bit that a Pope from that region of the world would push for amnesty for illegals and the liberal media would have a field day asking conservative Catholic politicians if they oppose the Holy Father, but with Pope Francis I think my prediction might be wrong. He's of Italian ancestry and the cool thing here is the guy totally LOOKED and sounded the part of Pope the moment he set foot on the balcony. (usually the first public appearance of the new Pope is pretty awkward) He really reminds me of one of those pre-Vatican II popes from the 30s and 40s.
I'm really not sure what to make of Pope Francis, and it seems everyone else in the same boat since he hasn't been talked about in the news yet. The interesting thing is people are all over the map on his idealogical views, with some saying this guy is a closet "liberation theology" guy and others saying he's a staunch hardcore conservative traditionalist. (his statements on abortion and gay marriage as Cardinal certainly give us optimism) Someone needs to explain to me the remarks on the internet about how they hope the new Pope can "bring the Jesuits back to the church" Huh? Aren't they already a very well known and popular Roman Catholic religious order? I'm pretty sure they're not some schematic anti-Vatican group of "Catholic" that denies the Pope or anything. Should we be concerned that Pope Francis is a member?