Gaudium Magnum: Habemus Papam!

"Miserando atque Elegendo" ("By having mercy and by choosing")- Cardinal Bergoglio's motto. Although it remains to be seen if Pope Francis will keep it, his humility is evident from not only his choice of motto, but from numerous personal attestations of how his has lived his religious vows: using public transportation, living in a simple apartment, doing his own cooking and housekeeping.

While there was some speculation earlier, apparently an official Vatican statement confirms that he chose his name in honor of Francis of Assisi, not Francis Xavier (directly). He is well known for his solidarity with the poor and has been an outspoken as a human rights advocate as well as on hot-button moral issues such as abortion and same-sex marriage.

Besides setting huge precedents by being a Jesuit from the Western Hemisphere and using an original papal name, it is also notable that His Holiness bowed in silence before the Urbi et Orbi blessing and asked all present to pray for him. After only witnessing one papal election, I did not realize at first what an enormous departure this was from protocol but several of the older priests watching the television with me were stunned as well as pleased when we were invited to join him in prayer. It speaks volumes that he is willing to shake things up as well as be humble and deferential. I eagerly await his installment and finding out what other surprises are coming!