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Cardinal Jorge M. Bergoglio SJ, now Pope Francis I ~ celebrating mass at the XXExposition del Libro Catholic (20th Catholic Book Fair), in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Exuberant masses packed into St.Peter’s Square in Rome as the world looked on with great anticipation for a sign:  white smoke… to indicate we have a new Pope.

Behind the scenes Roman Catholic Cardinals chanted and prayed in the Vatican City conclave to the Holy Spirit for divine guidance in selecting the world’s next Pope.  Potentially very heady stuff if you are one of the world’s 1.2 billion Catholics awaiting the news on who will be the next leader of the Roman Catholic Church.  Additionally, this phenomenal, spiritually charged event received unprecedented media attention around the world regardless of religious preferences and beliefs.

According The National Catholic Reporter, on naming himself after St. Francis of Assisi after his election to the papacy, Argentine Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio said that “he chose to name himself after Francis of Assisi because the 12th century saint ‘is the man of poverty, the man of peace, the man who loves and protects creation.’

Pope Francis I continues, “How I would like a Church that is poor and for the poor,” he told some 5,000 journalists gathered for an audience with the pope.

As a player in TV media I have to ask one question:  Why?  Why was world media so entranced by the recent process of selecting of the 266th Pope?

While I think the answer is complicated, it may in part be due to our instinctual desire as humans to “hope” for the best.  Let’s face it, whether you are Catholic or not, if you take a hard, cold look at what’s going on in the world, the reality is – we need spiritual guidance and assistance.  The well-spring of hope and the possibilities represented in the selection of the 266th Pope to lead the way to world peace shined so bright in this opportunity, that even the most pessimistic of souls could not outshine the presence of a higher deity at work.  The human existence is such that we are hardwired to “hope” for a better existence for ourselves, for future generations, and for peace on earth for all of mankind.

Where were you on 3/13/2013 when you heard the heralding news there was “White Smoke New Pope?”

Aprilanne.com will now share the spotlight with WhiteSmokeNewPope.com ~ the  web destination where you are invited to share musings on the symbolism of this spiritually transforming occasion in the world’s history.

According to a FOX News article,  “As the long-time archbishop of Buenos Aires, Francis has spent nearly his entire career at home in Argentina, overseeing churches and shoe-leather priests. In choosing a 76-year-old pope, the cardinals clearly decided that they didn’t need a vigorous, young pope who would reign for decades but rather a seasoned, popular and humble pastor who would draw followers to the faith and help rebuild a church stained by scandal.”

What do you think?  Does the cardinals’ decision to select Pope Francis represents hope for a new world of peace?   Where you were you on 3/13/2013 when you heard the news there was “white smoke and we have a new pope?”  How did the news of “white smoke new pope” make you feel?

Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio’s decision to choose “Francis” as his papal name is also a “first”  in the history of the Catholic Church.  Reverend as the Patron Saint of Animals, and one of the most pre-eminent figures in the Catholic Church to imitate Christ, we get a glimpse of St. Francis’ gentle soul and wholesome cause to do go for others in the CNN video below, wherein we hear that St. Francis Assisi was a “radical figure,” (…) “remembered for his humility, giving his riches to the poor, and famous for talking to the birds and loving nature.”

Feel free to share your musings on the symbolism of this historic occasion in the Catholic Church and the world’s history with us…

There are few things more breathtaking than the beauty of California’s expansive coastline, and no better way to see it than on a Bay Aerial Helicopter Tour.  While I recommend you experience a helicopter tour with Bay Aerial first hand yourself – definitely check out this California Living’s Season 8 Half Moon Bay, CA travel special since that’s exactly what we’ve done to show you the sights and get an overview of “Princeton-By-The-Sea” – a phenominal getaway spot on the California’s Coast.

The “sky’s the limit” in this CA Living travel special of the season delivering the “Insider’s Guide” on where to Stay & Play in this “park your car and walk everywhere” Bay Area hotspot - which is a convenient 45 minute drive from anywhere in the Bay Area and a quick 20 minutes from SFO.

Now while the annual Mavericks Surf Competition is usually referred to as being in Half Moon Bay, CA – Mavericks is actually located in Princeton-By-The-Sea” – which was discovered by Big Wave Rider legend and Mavericks Surf Competition Founder  Jeff Clark.  We interview Jeff Clark at his Mavericks Surf Shop in this show and hear first hand about his unique story of how Mavericks all began.  Then - we hit the beach with Clark for a Stand Up Paddle Board session on one of his handcrafted SUP’S and have just a ton of FUN!!!

In Food & Wine – we meet with Paul and Julie Shenkman Co-Owners of Sam’s Chowder House in Half Moon Bay, CA for the inside look at how Sam’s offers both great oceanfront views AND great food – a winning combination that’s hard to beat! We also spotlight the authentic Italian cuisine at Mezza Luna Restaurant in “Princeton by the Sea”  – and to top off all the fun and excitement…

We check out the Oceano Hotel & Spa where I indulge in a decadent spa treatment reminiscent of Cleopatra’s famed beauty regimens – and of which I am sure if she were around today would be quite envious of…but I’m not going to give it all away here - you’ll just  have to tune in:

Thursday, Jan 24, 2013 @ 6:30 a.m. on KKPX-TV 65/Comcast Cable 16 in San Francisco – an Jose – Oakland, CA and on KSPX-TV Channel 29/Comcast Channel 11 in Sacramento, CA.  Please heck your local listings for Dish and Direct TV Channels.  Aprilanne

The 2013 “Super Bowl of Big Wave Surfing” Mavericks Surf Competition is on for Sunday, January 20, 2013 in Pillar Point Harbor near Half Moon Bay, CA.  

The California Living™ TV Special on Mavericks, the Princeton By The Sea, Half Moon Bay, CA travel destination featuring an in-depth interview with  Jeff Clark airs:

Thursday, Jan 24, 2013 @ 6:30 a.m. on KKPX-TV 65/Comcast Cable 16 in San Francisco – an Jose – Oakland, CA and on KSPX-TV Channel 29/Comcast Channel 11 in Sacramento, CA.  Please heck your local listings for Dish and Direct TV Channels.  

In case your not in our viewing area – you can check out our interview with Jeff Clark below:

To paraphrase Mavericks Surf Competition founder Jeff Clark, Mavericks is the “Super Bowl” of Big Wave Riding – wherein “the best surfers in the world are invited to take on the biggest waves on the planet “- which just happen to be in the Princeton by the Sea area of  Half Moon Bay, CA.   Jeff Clark discovered this “Everest of waves” and founded the Mavericks Surf Competition held annually at Mavericks.

I have never met a more passionate, genuine, and likable person as Jeff Clark  – and we  had a ton of FUN filming with him at his Mavericks Surf Shop in Half Moon Bay and riding with him on his hand crafted SUP”S - Stand Up Paddle Boards for this show.

Enjoy!  Aprilanne