Haha. I was living in Barcelona during the last vote. The woman I was living with (a Catholic) was pissed that it took so long. Every channel had 24 hr Vatican coverage and all she wanted was her normal TV shows back. I'm guessing she is happy right about now.
"Raised" Catholic usually implies you are no longer Catholic, or are but not really practicing. I suspect, as usual, it was beaten out of you. Par for the course, no?
I like the idea of being able to just change your name like that, but I think I'd have picked a less androgynous name than Francis.
New pope is Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, and he'll go by Pope Francis. So, I guess I will start referring to Sly only by "Jorge" and/or "Francis".
Well, I guess it's not surprise. Argentina already home to both the Hand of God AND the Messiah. It's only natural that they get a pope too.