Urbi et Orbi
"Habemus papam!" "We have a pope!" Congratulations to Pope Francis, His Holiness the Bishop of Rome, along with my sincerest thanks for his willingness to serve our Lord by bearing the most weighty burden of the papacy. Spare a pray, dear reader, for the Vicar of Christ on Earth as he becomes shepherd of the Catholic Church, the world's greatest body of the faithful, & sovereign of the State of Vatican City.

The Holy Fathers of my lifetime:

His Holiness Pope Blessed John Paul II
(Karol Józef Wojtyła)
25 July 1979-2 April 2005

His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI
(Joseph Aloisius Ratzinger)
19 April 2005-28 February 2013

His Holiness Pope Francis
(Jorge Mario Bergoglio)
13 March 2013-incumbant

Lies, Damned Lies, & the News
The B.B.C.'s coverage since Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI announced his impending abdication would have made Titus Oates proud. (Oates & his "Popish Plot" will surely be the subject of an "Explorers' Club" episode at some point.) The B.B.C. always treated His Holiness Benedict poorly, though whether this was due principally to residual Anglican hostility to Catholicism, principally to residual British hostility to Germans, or both hatreds in equal measure remains unknown. It will be interesting to note how fairly or how shabbily that treat His Holiness Francis. Will they be kinder because he is non-European? Time shall tell.