Susan, some of us are Catholic and some non-Catholic ~ but a lot of us are ex-Catholic or semi-Catholic or disaffected-Catholic, too.

Also, as many folks here have observed (including you, if I'm not mistaken), the role of the Pope on the world stage is so prominent that his identity and his policies have an impact on everyone.

That's why not everyone is ready to shut up and accept this decision without commment.

It's true that individuals sometimes defy all expectations and surprise all the pundits after ascending to office. Those situations, however, as the exceptions that prove the rule.