Well, when he was voted in they knew what he would do, so I'd imagine they, the cardinals, expect his 'humble', relatively anti-material piety to appeal to the largely materialistic world. A new model of humility. Also, being from a 'peripheral country' helps the church maintain members in these types of countries.
Personally, I'm rather undecided about him. something about him uneases me, but I'm not a practicing Catholic.
I think what is also important here is that I would hope the Pope would rattle the cages of the scandels the church has been doing regarding child molestation. I hope in the future he would reign in the monsters who take advantage of the helpless, that being children. With regards to homosexuality I'm not going to hold my breath. I think a long standing tradition is not to be messed with although I disagree with the church's stance on homosexuality, I wouldn't be the one to ask them to change their views.
It would be great to see him impose severe sanctions against bishops who mishandled the abuse cases.
What I like about him is that he's not a detached, ivory-tower type who's locked into the trappings of the office. He doesn't live in the palatial apartments and wear designer duds like his predecessors. He's taken on the Vatican insiders and is working to clean up the corrupt banking system.
What I most like is his strong focus on social justice and acceptance of people others like to denigrate, such as gays and minorities.
If that's his ride; he more pimp than pope