[Alberta's Child]

I'm not surprised at this turn of events, since Ratzinger had a few things in his favor going into this conclave (his age, his personal connection to Pope John Paul II, and his stature within the Vatican). What is being overlooked here is that we have now had two consecutive non-Italian popes -- which means that the papacy is clearly seen as more of an international institution than it once was.

[cyborg]

good point

[pa mom]

But I was hoping for non-European.