[cpdiii]

I forgot to note this: The Church of Cardinals elects The Pope. These Cardinals knew this man for decades. They knew what he believed in. They elected him.

The deep rot in the Catholic Church rests in the Church of Cardinals. The present pope is just a symptom of the rot in The Church of Cardinals.

[irishjuggler]

I forgot to note this: The Church of Cardinals elects The Pope. These Cardinals knew this man for decades. They knew what he believed in. .

Disagree. Most of them didn't know him well. Unlike many of his predecessors, he wasn't a known quantity around the Vatican. His election was engineered by a small well-organized minority that voted as a bloc, lobbied for him and was able to secure support for him in early ballots. His supporters arranged for him to get prime speaking slot at a pre-conclave event. He apparently delivered a strong reform-oriented speech (that was likely written for him by someone else). There have been reports that many cardinals now greatly regret voting for him and believe that his election was manipulated.

[ebb tide]

I forgot to note this:...

You forgot more than that. There is no "Church of Cardinals", which you mentioned three times.

There is however, a college of cardinals.