John Paul was just 58 when elected pope in 1978, and travelled extensively during one of the longest papacies in history.
ECONOMIST: In John Paul's footsteps | The
2.
The Guardian welcomes an "extraordinary leap" from the conservatism of the last two papacies, and a "decisive shift in the church's centre of gravity".
BBC: Newspaper review: Press react to new Pope Francis
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Papal historian Anura Guruge, author of two books about the papacy and creator of a database of past popes, said there is some aversion among cardinals who select the pontiff to long papacies.
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