Osler's Razor

You asked this, but why does it matter? I do not mean any disrespect to Catholics as I undersand how important it is to their church. But is there a bigger picture? Every news network has dedicated hours to the choice and many broadcasted the results live. I feel like I am missing something in that I don't understand. Any help?
 

Anonymous 2:03 said..."many broadcasted the results live."

People like pageantry and tradition; pomp and circumstance. I'm not catholic and I'm not British but I enjoy watching this event as well as I enjoy watching a royal wedding and one day a coronation. There is some internal comfort knowing that after thousands of years a group of people can be committed to tradition.
 

Mark:
Although many of us assume Francis of Assis - some from his humility/commitment to poor, others (like me) because of Jesus' request to Francis to "rebuild my church"), this Pope has said nothing to indicate that Francis of Assisi was the inspiration for his name. The other strong possibility is Francis Xavier - co-founder of the Jesuits - known for his evangelization efforts. I suspect both may have been in his mind.

Of course the third possibility - and perhaps he had all three in mind - is Francis de Sales.
 

Great news for a great church. Long live the Society of Jesus. Great Symbolism to pick a Southern Hemisphere candidate.
 

God always has a plan! No matter which St Francis inspired his choice, many now know more about three great role models for us all. That in itself is a wonderful thing. I love that a man so humble has been chosen to lead. In our "worldly" world we do not often put men or women who are humble and caring as leaders.

 

I'm a Methodist.
 

The things that really need to change in the church with respect to women (birth control and more of a presence of women in roles of import in the church),a healing of people harmed by priests,allowing priests to marry and a rapprochement of homosexuals will not change. I don't ask for much,do I? The new pope is a conservative. Perhaps,and I certainly was moved by this yesterday,his role as a model will be significantly more impactful than any progress in terms of altering church doctrine. The humility,prayer (I liked that he wanted to,needed to pray and said so to the crowd as friend to friend...so the great value of holy silence,as opposed to the cacophony of machines that in many ways make it possible for us to ignore God,and have any semblance of peace in our souls...guilty!) and adoption of a simple life (perhaps this will be a catalyst to this world which does not seemingly know much value beyond possessing...(guilty!),his active role in helping the poor,being amongst the poor as an encourager,as a mentor,as someone who cares deeply for them and sees them as having a blessed contribution to make as Christians,human beings...will encourage greater acts of charity and neighborliness...this is the way he will affect change in the church. Bear in mind this comes from an Episcopalian,who did not become a Catholic primarily because I did not like the idea of having a pope as head of the church. I like this guy...but I was hoping for some major healing in areas of exclusion and crimes by priests,and I don't think we will see this.
 

Sorry,that was so rambling...I realize I am not penning haiku!Is rambling the way a poet convinces? Maybe just this poet!
 

With the caveat that I am not Catholic, this seems to me, as an outsider, to be a return to business as usual for a stultified bureaucracy.

For all the excitement about Bergoglio being from South America, he is Italian in many ways. Argentina has a large Italian population and his parents had only recently emigrated there when he was born. It's most likely he lived in an Italian neighborhood and spoke Italian before he spoke Spanish.

He studied theology in Germany, home of one of Europe's most conservative Catholic Churches and just as Pius XII was silent, if not complacent, during the Fascist and Nazi reign over Europe, Bergoglio did not speak out against the Argentine military dictators.

This to me, looks like a return of conservative, unyielding Italian control over the job of Bishop of Rome.

He's also quite advanced in years and it seems unlikely he will have the time or vigor to make major administrative or philosophical changes.
 

Love is not limited by age, neither is the heart. And discernment over the dichotomy of the pageantry of succession for the Bishop of Rome, with his past life to now be newly lived, is a precious gift (and opportunity) offered.

For Catholics (and others through his example), Pope Francis has an opportunity to be a bright new light in rooms often darkening – the secret inner workings of the Vatican and the hearts dimming of more and more followers.

Is there courage to ‘tear the curtain in two’ once again – to illuminate more than interpretation of doctrine and encyclical, but the discussion and process preceding? Jesus’ message was inspired and shared by encounter and moment in the light, not formulated within the darkness of minds secretive and closed.

No matter ‘the’ Francis emulated, Pope Francis must begin the rebuilding of His church – welcoming all into His arms and to His Heart – Our calling, the most important.

For it is each one of us, bound by Creed or not, – born in love, reason and free-will – that will bring about the change we seek – affirmation, inclusion and love of all. . .
 

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Listening on the BBC... interviews with bystanders in Italian and English... announcement came in Latin... and while his first words were in Italian... they were uttered with a Chilean accent.

Already moved, there then came the moment a tear rolled down my cheek, hearing what I thought to be a familiar phrase...

Padre nostro che sei nei cieli
sia santificato il tuo nome...

Our Father who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name...
 

from his first homily as pope: "After these days of grace, I hope we'll have courage to walk in presence of the Lord, with cross of Lord and rebuild his church"."
 

Ditto IPLAwguy.
David, his accent is decidedly Argentinian (which is heavily influenced by Italian pronunciation of Spanish, which also mangles both Italian and Spanish…I happen to have an Argentinean colleague).