International men of mystery

Pope Benedict XVI and his electors.

Just a couple of weeks ago, these men were largely unknown outside of the circles of ardent Vaticanistas. Most of them were certainly unknown to me. But now some of them have the most recognizable names in the world, and, for better and for worse, they have just chosen one of the most powerful men in the world. Pope Benedict may be the new head of the Roman Catholic Church, but, as Richard Cohen put it in his most recent column in The Washington Post: "We -- that's all of us -- have a new pope."

More on Cardinal Ratzinger -- Pope Benedict XVI to follow.