The Recusant

In 1458, when he was elected pope and took the name of Pius II, Cardinal Enea Silvio Piccolomini declared to his entourage:  “Forget Enea, welcome Pius.”  Today, one month after the election of the new pope, here are the questions that Vatican-watchers are asking themselves:  “Will Jorge send his kind remembrances to Francis?  Or will Francis make everybody forget Jorge?”  And even:  “Will Francis make us forget Benedict?”  Or else:  “Will Francis always be the same as at the beginning of his pontificate?”  For Church history shows that the pontificate of Pius IX did not end as it had begun.