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<p>I guess that makes my son +3 - graduated from a Jesuit HS in 2007</p>
<p>Have there been any young popes in modern times? I’m not Catholic, so don’t usually pay attention, but haven’t most popes practically been elderly when elected? Is this on purpose to limit their terms? Or just a reflection that with age comes wisdom?</p>
<p>My apologies is that seems like a dumb question or disrespectful in any way. Certainly would not want to offend.</p>
<p>I went to a Jesuit college, and have very fond memories of the Jesuits there. They are intellectual and, at least the ones at my college, unorthodox.</p>
<p>I was hoping that someone from Latin America or Africa would be chosen. </p>
<p>I read that the new pope was a chemist and professor. And that he lived in a one-room apartment instead of the mansion assigned to him.</p>
<p>@cbreeze: You made me snort my tea! S has made it to second semester senior year without a JUG. Several teachers who know him well keep telling him can’t graduate without at least one JUG experience :)</p>
<p>^^ Mine also made it through without a single JUG.</p>
<p>we are Catholic, and are hopeful he won’t turn out to be another highly conservative pope, but that’s unlikely. But he’s older and has only one lung. We’ve already got a pool going on how long he’ll last. Sacrilegious, I know.</p>
<p>Nrdsb4, you’re not disrespectful at all. I was raised Catholic and I had the same question. According to Wikipedia, Francis is the 9th oldest pope at the time of his appointment. Benedict was the 5th oldest.</p>
<p>All 4 of us here are Jesuit-educated. I agree with NYMomof2 - a great and sometimes unorthodox experience. I hope this will be a big step forward for Catholics.</p>
<p>Nrdsb4, depends on what you think of as young. Since around 1900, most popes have been in their mid 60’s. Remember, they’re chosen (traditionally, anyway) from among the Cardinals, which means chances are pretty small they’ll ever be in their 40’s. </p>
<p>Two of the youngest were 56 and 58, and one of them served a really short time, while JP II was the other one, and served a really long time.</p>
<p>Benedict and Francis are unusual in being in their 70’s.</p>
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<p>I guess we’ve got some pretty good kids. I just had to look up what it means, as I’d heard the term, but never really knew what it meant.</p>
<p>My non-catholic Jesuit university grad is very happy about this choice. I listened to Pope Francis speak today and was very impressed with his humility and grace. I hope I look that good when I’m 76!</p>
<p>Romani, what Pope prior to this was from outside of Europe?</p>
<p>Edit to say…I see there were Berber popes a long while ago. That is almost Europe!</p>
<p>I think it’s Pope St Gregory III from Syria</p>
<p>[Argentina’s</a> Bergoglio elected as new pope Francis | Reuters](<a href=“http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/03/13/us-pope-succession-idUSBRE92808520130313]Argentina’s”>http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/03/13/us-pope-succession-idUSBRE92808520130313)
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<p>Catholic tradition states that Peter was the first pope. Obviously, he was not from Europe.</p>
<p>My husband reminded me of the pope who was elected in 1978 but only lived 33 days after his election. Sounds like a good plot for a conspiracy movie!</p>
<p>Another non-catholic family with three members who received degrees from Jesuit universities. Love them! Very exciting.</p>
<p>He isn’t Italian himself, but it seems that both his parents were, so I guess that should be close enough for anyone who wishes they’d chosen someone from Italy.</p>
<p>Also, even though he’s a Jesuit, he’s known for being extremely, extremely conservative on certain social issues. I’m sure you can all figure out what they are, and I see no reason to get into that here in detail. Historically, though, it seems that most of the opposition to him derives from his alleged collaboration with the military dictatorship in Argentina back when it was in power, including allegations that he turned over some left-wing activist priests to the military. True or not? I have no idea, but it’s the subject of a lot of articles I’ve seen today, including articles written before he was selected.</p>
<p>I am so happy I was able to watch the announcement along with DS’13 who happened to stay home from school today 
We are catholic, though he claims he is an agnostic ;), very emotional time. I was also surprised at the knowledge of the election process that DS has - apparently ANY catholic male in good standing with the church can be elected, although it has not happened in a very, very long time. But who knew? 
The cardinals are there to elect a new leader, but he does not have to come form this group!
I see exciting times ahead for our faith!</p>
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<p>I will never judge a person based on circumstances I do not understand…have to be in their shoes at that specific time and do differently to be able to have an opinion…</p>
<p>Quite a television event it was!</p>
<p>I do have to wonder how they have the robes ready in the right size. I wonder if they got a couple extra robes made up just in case.</p>
<p>Yes. They had white vestments made up in small, medium, and large. I think they also had the red shoes in several sizes.</p>