PAPAL TALES

How Pope Francis Was Selected

He promised a new narrative.

When Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio arrived from Argentina to the papal conclave at the Vatican, he considered himself such a dark-horse candidate for the papacy that he already had his return ticket to Argentina, to be home in time for Holy Week, in his bag. But a short, four-minute speech given to the General Congregation about the long-term future of the church, its recent failures, and its need to refocus on its members outside of the Vatican City walls perked the ears of skeptics of his candidacy, intrigued by his promise of leading his church into a new narrative. Suddenly, Cardinal Bergoglio went from papal dark horse to frontrunner, and, of course, was elected Pope Francis.