What’s in a papal name? An agenda for the Catholic Church

VATICAN CITY – When Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio emerged onto the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica after the conclave of March 2013, few outside his native Argentina knew who he was or what kind of pope he might be.

When his papal name was announced, things became much clearer.

Taking the name of the 13th century St. Francis of Assisi, Bergoglio laid out a plan for his papacy.

St. Francis had rejected wealth and wanted to care for the poor. He had taken care of animals...