Evident is that Pope Francis is breaking the tradition. Commentators observed that sixteen of the nominalization are under 80 years old, so they qualify to enter the conclaves held to elect new popes. The new appointments boost the number of Central and South American cardinal electors to 19 in 122. Africa and Asia have now 13 cardinal electors.
Pope Francis has been declared Times Person of the year, in 2013. In only one year, he made a lot of uncommon things which marked people from around the world. He called for cooperation between Christians and Muslims, he invited homeless men to his birthday meal, he spoke out against the Church’s rigidity with abortion, gay marriage and contraception, he redirected employee bonuses to charity, he fought child abuse, he condemned the global financial system, he acknowledged that atheists can be good people, he auctioned his motorcycle to benefit the homeless, he washed and kissed the feet of 12 young offenders during a service at a jail for minors, to commemorate Jesus’ gesture of humility towards his apostles and more…and more… All this because the Pope Francis is different.
