Hmmm...there were several leading candidates...I don't know if this disproves 'go in a Pope and come out a Cardinal' or not...how strong a favorite does a candidate have to be?
I was rather young when JPI and JPII were elected...neither of them were on anybody's short list...
What is the nominative singular for Papam? Is it Papas or Papa?
There have been 100 popes in the last 6 centuries?...So the average reign is about 6 years?
Viva Papa Benedictus XVI...
Actually, it's not that uncommon fro the favorite to be elected. Pius XII, John XXXIII, and Paul VI were each widely expected to be elected, and of course, each was.