Some solid South Side yearbook action for you all.

A Chicago thing. If you know, you know. The Pope votes out of my diocese, by the way.

Still shocked by the surreal. Never thought I'd live to see a Yankee pope.

Just goes to show you: anything's possible at a conclave. I was 100% certain the old rules would apply here, and an American would be off the table. Pope Francis hated Americans, by the way. Amazing.

I simply cannot believe it. It's an American. From Chicago. Not more than a few miles from where I sit.

Well, that was quick. Here's to praying.

The most famous smokestack in the world.

Black smoke is a good sign. There will be no quick deals here.

More people in the square looking at a smokestack than I saw at one time during the Francis funeral. It won't be today. And probably not tomorrow. All the better: let it take a week, as the severity of the situation is well-known to every man in the Chapel.

Reopening Alcatraz is the weirdest, most surreal, silliest decision yet.