Argentinian Cardinal Chosen As Next Pope

While there had been some speculation that the next Pope might be Brazilian Cardinal Odilo Scherer, he was not selected. Instead, the conclave chose Argentinian Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, who becomes the first South American to serve as spiritual leader of the Roman Catholic Church. 

According to an article in the New York Times, he "is also the first non-European leader of the church in more than 1,000 years."

The selection of a South American Pope may signal a realization among the cardinals that it's time for a change of direction. Or it may have been a political decision, driven by the reality that the Church has proportionately more members in South America, Africa, and Asia than it does in Europe.