2013-03-13, 03:54 PM
Quite a few firsts with the election of Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio to pope (now Pope Francis I):
- First Latin American/non-European cardinal to be elected to pope
- First Jesuit to be elected to Pope
- First pope to take the name "Francis" (symbolizes poverty, humility). This pretty much shatters precedent, because one of the prominent religious figures in Roman Catholicism was St. Francis of Assisi, and thus having a pope choose a name derived from a prominent religious figure was unthinkable (until today's election).
Don't expect anything "radical" with this new pope (like always). From what it looks like, his views mostly correlate with the "standard" Catholic teachings and values. (Also, he's 76 years old. Must I say more?) However, he does allow a bit of leeway (for example, teaching the importance of respecting individuals who are gay or lesbian)
Also, the election of Francis I wasn't a surprise. Some reports have said that he came in 2nd in balloting in the last conclave back in 2005, but he did the "good guy" deed and persuaded cardinals to break the gridlock by voting for now-retired Pope Benedict (who was the front runner back then). Even though media reports have said that this conclave would feature a "wide-open election" with "no clear front runners", I think that now-Pope Francis I's positive deed during the last conclave was probably one of the significant factors that got him elected to be the next pope.
- First Latin American/non-European cardinal to be elected to pope
- First Jesuit to be elected to Pope
- First pope to take the name "Francis" (symbolizes poverty, humility). This pretty much shatters precedent, because one of the prominent religious figures in Roman Catholicism was St. Francis of Assisi, and thus having a pope choose a name derived from a prominent religious figure was unthinkable (until today's election).
Don't expect anything "radical" with this new pope (like always). From what it looks like, his views mostly correlate with the "standard" Catholic teachings and values. (Also, he's 76 years old. Must I say more?) However, he does allow a bit of leeway (for example, teaching the importance of respecting individuals who are gay or lesbian)
Also, the election of Francis I wasn't a surprise. Some reports have said that he came in 2nd in balloting in the last conclave back in 2005, but he did the "good guy" deed and persuaded cardinals to break the gridlock by voting for now-retired Pope Benedict (who was the front runner back then). Even though media reports have said that this conclave would feature a "wide-open election" with "no clear front runners", I think that now-Pope Francis I's positive deed during the last conclave was probably one of the significant factors that got him elected to be the next pope.