When white smoke emerged from the Sistine Chapel on March 13, 2013, indicating that 115 cardinal electors had finished their voting, few in the public expected Jorge Mario Bergoglio, who was considered too old, to be chosen as the Catholic Church’s 266th Pope. At 76, he was beyond the typical age limit for a candidate. Bergoglio, from Buenos Aires, Argentina, became the first Latin American Pope, the first non-European Pope in over 1,200 years, and the first Jesuit Pope. He took the name Francis after Saint Francis of Assisi, known for his asceticism and service to the poor. Cardinal electors, who traditionally elect from among their own, now include more geographically diverse members due to Francis’s appointments. Up to 135 electors could decide on his successor, with 80% appointed by Francis. Experts argue it will be as unpredictable as Francis’s own election, influenced by charisma, competence, and piety over ideology.
Source: https://time.com/7279520/francis-appointed-cardinals-elect-new-pope-vatican-conclave-court-packing/
