A group representing priest abuse victims requests a meeting with Pope Francis

A group representing priest abuse victims requests a meeting with Pope Francis

(CNN) -- Pope Francis is being painted as a humble and simple man, but his past is tinged with controversy surrounding topics as sensitive as gay marriage and political atrocities. Questions linger about Francis' actions during the nation's dark days

If the papal odds are less reliable than the odds on, say, sporting events â€" which have a very good overall record â€" they still may be the most useful publicly available predictions.

The cardinals who chose Bergoglio as Pope Francis were appointed by the last two Popes, and when it comes to any interest in loosening the doctrinal strictures that most lay Catholics would call “reform,” they were appointed

VATICAN CITY â€" He stopped to pay his hotel bill a day after becoming pope. He wore simple black shoes and an ordinary wristwatch with a thick black band to his first Mass as pontiff. He rode in a minivan to dinner with the cardinals who elected him,

The choice of Cardinal Bergoglio does mark a series of firsts: the first non-European Pope in modern times; the first Latin-American Pope; the first Jesuit Pope; he first Pope to take the name of Francis, in homage to St. Francis