Pope cam! Watch the smoke happening LIVE! Booya! Exciting! And, there is still time to pick your favourite in my Pope Pool! (Ed.: Initially this post included a link to the Sistine Chapel chimney webcam.)

Deirdre: (12:43) I'm hoping they go with someone completely unexpected.

Me: (14:25) How about the Spanish Inquisition? Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition.

Deirdre: Maybe too unexpected...

Me: (14:26) I'm still cheering for Oswald Gracias.

Deirdre: Too late - Jorge Bergoglio from Argentina.

Me: (simultaneously) Oh wait... they just announced him. I lose. But hey, an Argentine is good too. What kind of name is "Francis"? Is that after St. Francis of Assisi?

Deirdre: Possibly Francis Xavier, one of the first Jesuits.

Me: No, he'd have gone by Francis Xavier. Francis Xavier is always referred to as Francis Xavier. I know cause I went to a Jesuit school. I still celebrate St. Francis Xavier day every year on December 3.

Deirdre: Not sure then.

Me: Plus Francis Xavier would kinda freak out a lot of people. The Jesuits were pretty scary sometimes.

Deirdre: He is the first Jesuit Pope.

Me: All the more reason NOT to go with Francis Xavier. St. Francis of Assisi was a hugely important reformer of the church.

Deirdre: True. It will be interesting to hear the interpretations of his choice and if they will tell us his reasons.

Me: Well it's too bad it's over so soon. I was hoping for a three-year saga of wild plot twists.

Deirdre: I don't think the world has quite enough turmoil to lead to a 3 year saga. And not enough infighting between cardinals.

Me: But we'd get to see the baby seagulls grow up!

Deirdre: Interesting to see the roof removed....

Me: They wouldn't do that... Not now that there are spy satellites that could look down and leak what's being said.

Deirdre: True, they would have to find some other incentive to speed up the process.

Me: Turn some bedbugs loose in St. Martha's.

Now that I think about it, I was right about the Spanish Inquisition. Baaaaaahaha! I crack me up.

Me: (17:05) "Initially, there was media speculation of whether he meant to honor either the 12th-century St. Francis of Assisi, known for his simple lifestyle and dedication to the works of mercy, or St. Francis Xavier, a 16th-century Spanish Jesuit priest known for his efforts to evangelize, particularly in Asia; or both. Jesuit Fr. Federico Lombardi, the Vatican spokesman, said the new pope chose the name in honor of St. Francis of Assisi." I was right. :) I like being right. :)

Deirdre: (19:20) You were right.

Me: (20:42) Yeah. We were all talking about the new pope at our Lenten service today and my Lutheran peeps agree that St. Francis Xavier would have been a little scary. We're kinda thinking St. Francis of Assisi might bode well for ecumenical dialog, what with preaching to the animals and all... and everyone is very impressed that the new pope cooks his own meals and rides the bus to work. However, one member of the congregation wonders whether Benedict really stepped down or was... pushed. So anyway, we Lutherans like your new pope so far. Thanks be to God.

By the way did you know that there are Lutheran Franciscans?