Who is Pope Francis I?
An American political figure who has asked not to be identified has known Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio for many years and has met privately with him.
This source predicted to us weeks ago that Bergoglio would succeed Benedict.
Our source described him as a "sweet, humble, and kind man."
He recalled that Bergoglio lived in a simple flat in Buenos Aires and took a subway to his church offices.
As for his poliitics, he is described as "more left than most" in the Church hierarchy, one who has expressed some sympathy for liberation theology and helping the poor — though some of this was voiced privately.
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In recent years, Bergoglio has been a strong opponent of Argentina's Kirchner government, largely because "(President Cristina) Kirchner has been at war with the Church."
Bergoglio also has been animated by the rising Protestant evangelical movements throughout Latin America and has encouraged the Church to focus on tradition while allowing the faithful to express their emotion as well.
Francis already has been described as a compromise choice.
LIGNET, Newsmax's global intelligence and forecasting service, predicted that the Italians who dominate the College of Cardinals would seek to appoint one of their own.
Failing that, LIGNET reported, the Italians would seek the support of Latin Cardinals to appoint one of from their region who was of Italian descent. Bergoglio is the son of Italian immigrants.
Bergoglio was one of two leading Cardinals, including Leonardo Sandri, also of Argentina, who fit the bill for a compromise candidate, as far as the Italians were concerned.
Bergoglio was discounted as a likely choice because of his age, 76. It was believed the conclave would seek a younger, more energetic, "governing" pope.
The selection of Bergoglio suggests that the Cardinals could not quickly select such a reformer.
Bergoglio likely will not be a transformational pope, but one who continues in Benedict's dogmatic footsteps while not radically changing the Curia, the Holy See's administration.
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