Eighteen days after Pope Francis last appeared on the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica, his successor -- the 267th pope -- emerged.

Prevost, who was promoted by Francis and has a knack for management and a zeal for missionary work, was a stronger candidate than many outside the Vatican knew.

Mention thrillers and the politics of the Pope and many will immediately think you are referring to Angels & Demons by Dan “Da Vinci Code” Brown, which—like Conclave —was given an extra dollop of publicity by a Hollywood film avatar starring Tom Hanks as Robert Langdon.