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"First off, the Holy Spirit does not pick the successor to St. Peter. At the beginning of the conclave, the cardinals pray for the grace of the Holy Spirit, that a worthy Shepherd of the whole flock of Christ be elected by us."

Ahhh okies. I've learned something new. So Catholics don't claim that God picks the Pope. Interesting.

Is there a point in time that you can referrence where God interacts with the new Pope? Like, three days after he enters Popedom, he can expect a visit?

Ah--- bless your heart, MeOn. Actually, beinst we're Catholics, God generally doesn't speak direct to us, like, via cell phone.

Admittedly, direct word from God occasionally, miraculously, happens; but as a wise priest once told me, "Normally, God acts normally."

We hope Pope Francis is, and remains, in a state of Sancticfying Grace, which means he -- like any baptized person --- is a temple of the Holy Spirit .

Is there a point in time that you can referrence where God interacts with the new Pope? Like, three days after he enters Popedom, he can expect a visit?

God calls each new Pope on his cell phone to congratulate him while he's getting dressed. Then God "friends" the Pope on Facebook. That's been the tradition since the 3rd century. Before that the Pope ascended directly into heaven to have dinner with God where, according to legend, they feasted on beans and haggis. Does that answer your question?

Welcome Noob.

The essence of religion is faith, not fact. I guess that’s why it is so difficult for some, because to see past one’s own world view is more difficult than anything else there is.

The beauty of the Church is that God acts through broken people from all walks of life. All of them redeemed sinners, but sinners none the less.

None are worthy of Heaven, but for the sacrifice of Christ for our sins.

So, you see, God generally goes with the underdog on almost everything. He goes with the most unworthy. Moses was a murderer, as was Saul of Tarsus (Paul). Moses was also both pretty dull and not all that bright, such that he made Aaron go with Moses and essentially speak for him on most matters.

That 115 Cardinals pick the Vicar of Christ doesn’t surprise me in the least. Most of them are asking God to pick for them anyway, and then someone gets picked.

Lately, and I’m talking about the last 100 years or so, that someone has been pretty solid.

So, yeah, God will probably be visiting Jorge, I mean Pope Francis, pretty soon, if He hasn’t already.