Holy Smoke!  That IS profound!  I think you have nailed it!

- Italian parents, so of Roman lineage - and guess what St. Francis' original name was? "of Peter" (di Pietro) - yup: Peter the Roman

I wonder if that is why he was selected?

Also a lot of Firsts with this Pope:

http://www.fivedoves.com/letters/march2013/mercer314-1.htm

He is the first Jesuit Pope ever 

He is also the first Pope to use the name Francis, in honor of a 13 Century reformer of the Catholic church sent by God.   St. Francis of Assisi was never even an ordained priest.  Although some say he chose that name to honor a Jesuit Priest that was an evangelist to the Asians.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_of_Assisi

Also the  first non-European Pope, although he is of Italian descent, he is from South America.