Community Corner

New Pope Francis Elected: Bishop Reacts

he white smoke appeared on Wednesday, signalling that the conclave had chosen Argentinian Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio to be the new head of the Catholic Church.

Jorge Mario Bergoglio, former cardinal of Argentina, was elected pope Wednesday.

The first South American pope, and the first to be elected outside Europe in more than 1,000 years, he will now be known as Pope Francis.

"Our new Holy Father is known for his humility, simple lifestyle and commitment to social justice, much like the patron saint he named himself after, St. Francis of Assisi of Italy," said Rev. Paul Bootkoski, Bishop of the Diocese of Metuchen in a statement. "I am confident that he will prove to be a worthy successor to Peter, our first pope, and to our most recent pope, Benedict XVI, who is to be admired for his leadership of the past eight years."

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Bootkoski said in the release that he was moved by the new pope's decision to ask for the blessing of the people gathered in St. Peter's Square after he was elected.

"I was very touched today as I watched our new pope step out onto the balcony and wave to the faithful in those first moments and the way people reacted when he first smiled at them," he said in the statement.

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Born Dec. 17, 1936, Pope Francis was ordained for the Jesuits Dec. 13, 1969 while pursuing his theological studies at the Theological Faculty of San Miguel, according to information from the Vatican.

Pope Francis was appointed as titular Bishop of Auca and Auxiliary of Buenos Aires in 1992, and, in 1997, was appointed Coadjutor Archbishop of Buenos Aires.

In 2001, Pope Francis was proclaimed cardinal by the Bishop John Paul II.

"I ask all the faithful of the diocese to join with me in deep and committed prayer for Pope Francis that he is able to accept and meet all challenges he encounters throughout his papacy with grace, prayer and, above all, an abiding trust in the Lord," Bootkoski said in the release.

What are your thoughts on the new pope, and how he has made history?


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