It would certainly be a different church if Milan Archbishop Martini had been elected pope, and he was definitely a serious contender. Since Ambrose was archbishop of Milan in the 300s, Milan has run its own course in the Catholic Church, always healthily independent. Milan has always been an example of how the ancient principle of collegiality is supposed to work. The Catholic Church is not supposed to be an absolute monarchy. Unfortunately, too often it has been a papal dictatorship.

-Joe-