The prediction of the press on the next Pope were wrong; early predictions lessened the chances of the dark horses?

It is more fun criticizing

Those who were vaunted to be the next Pope did not materialize.  The campaigning and early promotions might have turned against the candidate like for Cardinal Luis Tagle.   The conclave to choose the next Pope is supposed to be a spiritual process and guided by God and not by human tactics and politics.  Everyone must accept and support the new Pope and he seems to be a good one.

The Roman Catholic Conclave has elected a new Pope

It is more fun criticizing

The 133 strong cardinals of the Roman Catholic Church has elected a new Pope, an American,  Robert Francis Provost, as the 267th Pope.   He is named Pope Leo XIV.  He is the first American to be Pope

He holds dual citizenship:   American and Peruvian.  He is said to be trombonist and used to play at jazz spots in Chicago.   

Sadly the PHL Cardinal Tagle, who was publicized to be the first Asian Pope did not make it.   The new Pope has been several times to the Philippines as an Agustinian.  He was in Iloilo when he visited Unversity of San Agustin

What will be the direction of the Catholics under Pope Leo XIV:   return to the basics and fundamental truth, to be progressive just like Pope Francis, or somewhere in the middle.   This is the cross road for the Catholics under a new leader.

Cardinals conclave tomorrow, May 7 to elect a new Pople

It is more fun criticizing

Over 100  Cardinals all over the world meet in a conclave tomorrow to elect a new Pope.   It is going to be a battle between the conservative (the purist) and those who are progressive - pro Pope Francis.  This is exemplefied by the Cardinals Tagle, a Filipino who professes pro Francis tenets of compassion, kindness, and progessive relevant policies for the new World.  Cardinal Becker on the other hand profess the truth -  the Doctrines.  Such clash of principles and values is common in other religious organization.  

Now the Pope has to be elected by 2/3 majority vote.  The sign that the conclave has elected a new Pope is the white smoke from the smokestack of Sistine chapel.  A black smoke means none has been elected yet.