From the moment white smoke appears, the transformation from cardinal to pope begins with remarkable speed. This episode explores the intense first days of a new papacy - a period when ancient traditions meet modern demands. We examine how different popes have made their mark immediately: John Paul the First refusing the papal throne, John the Twenty-Third shocking cardinals by announcing the Second Vatican Council, John Paul the Second breaking centuries of tradition as a non-Italian pope, and Francis washing the feet of Muslim prisoners. These crucial early decisions reveal how even small changes to papal traditions can signal seismic shifts in the Church's direction and set the tone for an entire pontificate.

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