In haste, the cardinals chose as his successor Archbishop Merry del Val, who had been ordained a bishop only three years before.

The cardinals chose defiance over deference to the expectations of their devastated flock, which thought that celibacy, women priests and married priests might be discussed.

The archdiocese's superintendent of schools, Catherine Hickey, said the cardinal had chosen a diverse group of ministries to be represented at the cabinet meetings.

In some cases the cardinals will choose a papabile candidate.

The cardinal was "imposed from above, rather than chosen" and often had no direct relationship with the governments of these countries.

This has led to some speculation that cardinals chose him as a trusted, transitional figure.

To allow the cardinals to choose Peter's successor in serenity, the outside world is barred.

I think that the cardinals chose this elderly and dogmatic leader as a transitional figurehead because of their tentative desire to adjust to the new global realities.

Six more cardinals chose not to participate in the conclave:

In short, the cardinals might well choose a pope who travels less, listens more and, by dint of his Christian spirituality, instinctively draws others to himself.