White smoke has finally blown above the Sistine Chapel as bells rang at approximately 7 p.m. local time in Vatican City, signaling the choice for a new pope has been made. Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Argentina will now be known as Pope Francis I. He is the first Jesuit and first Latin American to be appointed as pope, both of which are steps away from tradition for the Roman Catholic Church.
But what of other traditions? The prohibition of women being ordained as priests — and thereby disallowing the possibility of a female pope — is one many have been asking about during this papal election. So, why can’t there be a female pope? More
