Somewhat of a surprise but an excellent choice; very conservative, and he probably won´t be pope for too many years, giving young cardinals like Tagle and Dolan time to get old enough to be more seriously considered. Very humble man, and will be loved by all true Catholics. The cafeteria ones will, happily, be disappointed.

I was hoping they´d go for an "outside the box" pick and choose....a non-catholic. Just kidding, I wish him well.

I´m not a Catholic, so my opinion doesn´t really count, but I agree with #1. He sure sounds like an excellent pick.

May the Lord God Almighty bless Pope Francis I and may his humility and love for our Lord Jesus Christ touch the hearts of the world. He thanked the people and he bent down and asked for those present to pray over him.

Damn!
I was rooting for Pope Billy Bob.

CNN immediately found someone in Argentina to point out that Bergoglio didn´t do ´enough´ about human rights violations in Argentina.

I guess the party is over.

I quite liked the sound of Pope Jorge but Pope Francis is OK.

He is very orthodox, so the MSM will hate him.
He has a reputation as a holy, humble man and he is an intellectual. He is the first Jesuit pope, the first pope from the Americas and he is the first Francis. There were two great Jesuit saints named Francis - Francis Xavier the missionary and Francis Borgia (the only good Borgia) who gave up a noble title to join the Jesuits.

#6 and this is the same CNN which has done jack about human rights violation in Syria and what the administration hasn´t done to prevent it.

Well, he sounds like a fine man. I´m not RC, either, but my heart is happy with this selection. I am thrilled with the name Francis. It´s one of my all-time favorite names (men and women [Frances]), and maybe this will bring it back into fashion. Also, a great name history-wise.

Perhaps God is not finished with this world yet. ;)

Evem more than his predecessor’s, this Pope seems an unlikely fit for Paul Ryan-style Catholics:

Bergoglio has supported the social justice ethos of Latin American Catholicism, including a robust defense of the poor. “We live in the most unequal part of the world, which has grown the most yet reduced misery the least,” Bergoglio said during a gathering of Latin American bishops in 2007. “The unjust distribution of goods persists, creating a situation of social sin that cries out to Heaven and limits the possibilities of a fuller life for so many of our brothers.”
Sounds like a socialist.

Wonderful news. As a Catholic, it´s nice to have happy news (and I like that the new pope is very traditional) in the midst of all the other things going on!

Our family will pray for Pope Francis as he begins his papal duties in shepherding the Church.

A Jesuit from "the ends of the earth". A South American, the first pope from the Americas. The first named Francis. A curve ball from the Holy Spirit. Much to like.

Am not a Catholic but my dad and aunts and uncles were born in Argentina.

...zippy probably could have been Pope..if all those cardinals weren´t racist.......s/

#11, the Church has always cared for the poor. True social justice is the calling of the church, I hate that the left and liberals have coopted the phrase to mean the government should be the main caregiver of the poor.

I believe he is a good choice. He seems faithful to the church and is serious, yet humble.

Conservative,doctrine wise which I´m happy about. Hearing a lot about social justice though but maybe not the Al Sharpton type.
I´m happy for S. America though.

He´s only part Italian, but I guess that that will have to do.

#8 makes a very good point. The EWTN commentators pointed out that there were two very significant Franises in history, and that which were the real namesake -- and he might even want to honor both.

But the conventional media have already decided for him, as their typically-superficial "knowledge" only puts Assisi on their screens.

If you get EWTN on cable, check them for a recap tonight. Even their camera work and locations were better.

I´m very happy with the choice-the Holy Spirit always picks the right man for the job. Social justice is very different in South America than it is here, never heard that they had food stamps or welfare checks. Sending prayers for him now.
Mrs. Cow

I read that he rode the bus, clipped his own nails,cooked his own meals, and tended to AIDS patients. Sounds like a humble man to me. I´m not Catholic but Ill pray for the man.

I am so glad to have a Pope again, I was feeling a bit sad without one. I´m reading different things regarding his possible political leanings so I think I´ll reserve judgement and trust the Holy Spirit!

#20 is correct about EWTN. Raymond Arroyo will be hosting "Live from The Vatican" tonight I believe. He often fills in for Laura Ingraham and is EWTN´s news director. It´s worth watching, the commentary is excellent.

His being a Jesuit, it´s St. Francis Xavier who is the Francis that Bergoglio has chosen to follow.
An interesting choice by the Carinals for the 266th Pope: an Argentine, Argentina with its Liberation Theology, a dirt-poor but children rich laity, no stories of pedophile priests or bishops hiding financial shenanigans or rampant clericalism; all in all a clean slate behind which to hide and thereby hopefully silence the allegations against "The Sins of The Fathers".
In your search for renewed holiness within the RCC, Pope Francis, please don´t forget Truth among your alleged gifts of Justice, Compassion and Peace.

Non-Catholic here with many wonderful years of Catholic schooling. Absolutely love all aspects of this choice!

Not RC but my DH is. My Dad was. Prayers for the new Pope and shouting with joy... THIS IS THE POPE WE HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR!!

#24: First, thanks. I often hear Arroyo with Laura, and he does good work there. I did not know of n with EWTN. Thanks for that info, too.

#25: Probably so, but to assume so just from Bergoglio being a Jesuit is an assertion, not a proof. Thanks. I´ll wait for a direct statement. As I said in #20, he may even be intending to recognize both. But having no direct evidence, I won´t propose he´s recognizing either or both.