Meet The New Pope. Same As The Old Pope?

"Habemus Papam" - Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, S.J., has been elected Pope Francis I (Photo credit: Catholic Church (England and Wales))

When the most-watched chimney in the world belched out white smoke Wednesday in Vatican City, it meant that the conclave of cardinals who had hidden themselves away behind closed doors had come to a decision about who was going to replace the newly-retired Pope Benedict.

The cardinals decided on a man who came from what they call the New World, an Argentinian who eschewed opulence in favor of public transportation and lived in ratty old apartments.  His name is Jorge Bergoglio, but to the world he will be known as Pope Francis I.

There are a number of firsts that came with the selection of Francis.  He comes from South America, where he was previously Archbishop of Buenos Aires.  He is a Jesuit priest. And he's of Italian ancestry, which is what might make the choice go down easier with Europeans, having seen the title of His Holiness go to a Pole and a German in recent decades.

Though Francis has been described as humble, the cardinals voted for a man who is as socially conservative as his predecessors.  He is also 76 years old and lives with one lung..  If the Catholic Church were serious about reforms, they would have chosen someone who was younger and in better health.  As it is, they elected another caretaker with one foot in the grave.

Almost half of the one billion Catholics around the world now reside south of the Equator.  This has come about through not just European emigration, but through the successful proselytizing of the locals over the centuries.

Francis and the Catholic Church now face many challenges, whether it's from changes in the world at large or scandals they've brought on themselves.  Contraception, gay marriage, women priests, etc., all demand attention.  All will be routinely ignored.  As for the complaints and lawsuits from those who believe they were molested as children by their friendly priest, it won't be as easy to sweep under the rug.  In other words, for the Catholic Church to make themselves relevant in the 21st century, the pope has to do more than tweet.

We have no idea what Francis I will do once he settles into his new position.  What we do know is that, with all the problems he has to face, he'll need all the prayers he can get.