Surprise!

I didn't see THAT coming.

OK, I saw the part about a Latin American Pope. Got that. Just picked the wrong one. Well, some wanted a Latin American, and some wanted an Italian, and now they're both happy.

Something that maybe we should have seen, but few did. There has been through most recent history of Popes an alternation of personality types. The decidedly non-charismatic Pius XII followed by the diplomat-charmer John XXIII, followed by the rather dull Paul VI, followed by the charismatic John Paul I (for a month) and the rock star charismatic John Paul II, followed by the shy, professorial Benedict XVI. Another decided change: since 1978 we have had philosopher-popes - professor-popes. It looks like the electors thought it time for a Pope with a strong pastoral background. Not that Francis lacks intellectual heft; he has a graduate degree in chemistry. But Francis spent most of his career in his native Argentina, caring for his flock.

I think it a great, and welcome, change.

You can never really know what a Pope will do, how he will influence the Church, until his papacy is in progress, or even after it's done. John XXIII, my personal favorite among modern popes, was a 77-year-old lifelong Vatican diplomat, Curia to the bone. He was elected because the guy they really wanted - Montini - was deemed not yet ready. Montini did, eventually, become Pope. He followed John XXIII, as Paul VI. But, in 1958, Roncalli - John's name before he became Pope - was thought a harmless placeholder who would do nothing drastic, make no big changes, just hold the place together until the guy they really wanted was ready.

Then John XXIII called Vatican II together. That nonthreatening placeholder proved to be something quite different. He said it was time to open the windows and let some fresh air in. Indeed. Some in the hierarchy feared he was opening the windows to a hurricane.

No hurricane. An interesting thing: the word pneuma in Greek translates exactly the same way that ruach in Hebrew does. Both have a triple meaning: breath. Wind. And, spirit. John XXIII wanted to open the windows and let a little - wind? or spirit? or Spirit? in. And did he ever.

I am heartened by Francis' choice of name - after St. Francis of Assissi, who gave himself to his faith with complete abandon.I am surprised that the cardinals selected a Jesuit; Jesuits have traditionally specialized in giving Popes heartburn. (One answer to a two-part question: "What are two things even God doesn't know?" A: "What's on a Jesuit's mind.") And I am glad for the recognition that the Catholic Church has become a church of the Southern Hemisphere.

Thanks for hanging out!