I came back from an appointment to find that white smoke was wafting from the Vatican Chimney.
From the Globe and Mail:
Argentine cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio will be known as Francis.
At 7:07 p.m., local time, white smoke billowed from the Sistine Chapel, signalling that a new pope had been elected after only two days of voting and five ballots. It came as a surprise, because there was no frontrunner going into the conclave and Vatican watchers had expected another day of voting after two inconclusive votes this morning.
St. Peter’s Square erupted in shouts and cheers and clapping when the white smoke emerged. The bells of St. Peter’s basilica began to ring immediately after the white smoke went up.
The crowd went wild with enthusiasm. Andrea Mascetti, 27, a Roman lawyer, could not believe his luck. He arrived in the square only minutes before the smoke was spotted. “I was just in time, ” he said. “We just saw history.”
At 8:12 p.m., local time, French Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran emerged onto the balcony facing St. Peter’s Square to announce the identity of Francis.
Elected on the fifth ballot, he was chosen in one of the fastest conclaves in years, remarkable given there was no clear front-runner going into the vote and that the church had been in turmoil following the upheaval unleashed by Pope BenedictXVI’s surprise resignation.
My son and I became Catholics in 2010, so this is the first “new Pope” we have seen elected as members of the faith. We are both watching Pope Francis’ first address on Fox News, and Blake commented that there was no number after his name.
It is said that the name the Pope takes is significantly historically and spiritually. For example, blessed John Paul II took his papal name to honor his immediate predecessor. It will be interesting to see which Catholic “Francis” that the new Pope wanted to honor: St. Francis of Assisi, the animal-loving Italian friar who is one of the most venerated religious figures in history, or perhaps St. Francis Xavier, who was known for his missionary work and co-founded the Society of Jesus (aka Jesuits).
Both of these saints shook up their world, and it is said that the the former Argentine Cardinal is a potential reformer. The new Pope is the first from the Americas, which seems to indicate that “inclusion” incorporating the dynamic church in Latin America was an aspect guiding the final conclave vote.
Pope Francis is known for his humility. During his initial address, the Pope bent down and asked the people to pray for him.
As Cardinal, Bergoglio became known for personal humility, doctrinal conservatism and a commitment to social justice. A simple lifestyle has contributed to his reputation for humility. He lives in a small apartment, rather than in the palatial bishop’s residence. He gave up his chauffeured limousine in favor of public transportation, and he reportedly cooks his own meals.
And, indeed, my son and I are. Pope Francis has much hard work ahead. God bless and keep him, and all people who are following today’s news.
UPDATES:
- From the National Catholic Register: New pope, Jesuit Bergoglio, was runner-up in 2005 conclave
- Hot Air’s Ed Morrissey is following the news on-scene: The new Pope is … Jorge Mario Bergoglio, Pope Francis I
- There is already a Pope Francis Facebook page!
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Comments
Pope Francis has shown himself to be a man of great humility (living simply; rejecting pomp; withdrawing from last conclave in name of Catholic unity so Benedict could be elected) and great spirituality, with a passion for the poor.
He is also an intellectual, and the first Jesuit pope.
“Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio is the new pope, and will take the name Pope Francis. He is the first Jesuit pope and the first Latin American pope”
Bravo!
Always an interesting question for Catholics, once cardinals become Popes, Does the Pope guide the church, or does the church guide the Pope.
Will he make declarations Ex Cathedra? It will be interesting to see how the church navigates with a Pope and a Pope Emeritus. I, for one, will be praying for their health and wisdom in these endevours.
Ex Cathedra means “From the Chair” of Saint Peter–the Pope speaks Ex Cathedra on matters of faith and morals ONLY. It doesn’t mean that he is going to step on the toes of the former Pontiff, who only wants to spend the rest of his days in prayer.
I’m not worried about him stepping on the Pope Emeritus’ toes, I’m worried about South American Liberation Theology.
I realize that he has been an opponent of it’s encroachment, but social justice should remain voluntary. I don’t want to hear about how it’s our duty to contribute to the government so that they can take care of the poor. Is that too much to ask? I’d rather donate to the poor directly without government waste involved.
I noticed a difference here.
Back in 2005, after the announcement was made that Joseph Ratzinger would be Pope Benedict XVI, I saw him walking toward that balcony, already with that red sash around him, and waving quite enthusiastically before the crowd – immediately.
Bergoglio did not.
No red sash – until it was placed before him publicly. And the semblance… Oh… He probably was shocked and humbled more than anything else. Did you see his eyes? He was in total amazement at the sight of the crowd. It seemed like he felt… small… before everyone present. And then, he said, “Pray for me”.
Think about it. He was just told something more shocking than, “Congrats, dude. You just won a million dollars.”
Main thing I like so far … FOX saying there was a sort of war in the church, a move toward “liberation theology”, especially in Central and South Americas. FOX says this new Pope was a leader in defeating (or minimizing?) that movement. Liberation theology was a Marxist style movement.
Obama’s church was “black liberation theology” (still is, afaik) and sided with the communists and Sandinistas in Central America in the 80’s.
So Chavez dies, then a wise Latino (but anti Marxist hopefully) priest becomes Pope. Sound good to me.
Oh, brother! A Commie pope. That’s all we need. The red flag: “social justice.” The Spanish American arm of the Church of Rome ruined the Americas with that nonsensical liberation theology of which “social justice” is a component.
Anyway, lets see how he plays out. Humility is nice, but I hope he sticks to the message of Scripture, which is definitely not about social justice.
In an October 2, 2007 speech Bergoglio said that “we aren’t in agreement with the death penalty,” but “in Argentina we have the death penalty. A child conceived by the rape of a mentally ill or retarded woman can be condemned to death.”
Pope Francis rejects liberation theology, and has done so for deacades
So what’s this with “social justice” and his problem with the free-market? The libs recognize him as one of their own on these points. How can be be against liberation theology when he’s spouting this? This makes him a Sharpton-Wright-Obama clone. Who needs a pope who is gonna talk that kind of trash?
It seems to me that the Church of Rome has enough problems without having its head throwing in with the Communists. But then, that’s the problem with much of South America. Socialism has been bred in with mother’s milk. Statism is the order of the day, and the free-market is frowned upon. That’s where Francis is.
So, spouting “social justice” and anti-free market babble makes him just another South American socialist/communist. He would do well to leave to Caesar the things of Caesar and focus on the Word and cleaning out the cesspool of homosexuals throughout the Roman Church’s hierarchy.
I hate to rain on anybody’s parade, but my prescription glasses are not rose-colored.
The newly elected Pope Francis, Jorge Mario Bergoglio, is linked to the mysterious ecumenical group <b.Comunione e Liberazione. Bergoglio is an accomplished theologian who distanced himself from liberation theology early in his career. He is thought to be close to Comunione e Liberazione, a conservative lay movement.
A truly humble spirit! Love the choice from I know right now……….
For the record, St. Francis Xavier was a founder of the Society of Jesus, the Jesuits.
or was the guy who liked birds and such
There is St. Francis de Sales too, as someone pointed out to me. However, I think he took his name from St. Francis Xavier, since he’s a Jesuit.
Some notes : For centuries until J.P. II the Popes were native Italians. Francis being the 1st Pope from outside Europe is of Italian heritage. Now with 3 non Italian born Popes it shows the historical shift in the Church but at the same time its continuity with the choice of Francis of Italian heritage. I find it interesting his 1st message was laden with references to him being the Bishop of Rome. Americans are so America centric we have little sense of history. With 2000 years of history the Catholic Church is very aware of history. I note to anyone reading these posts Francis is every bit an.American as any of us.
I became Catholic in the late 1980’s. I’m very happy with the outcome and think it bodes well for drawing Latin America away from the “Godless Marxists”, and I especially love St. Francis for his work with animals and hope this is a sign there will more help for them (thinking of the Asian dog meat trade where they are grabbed, stuffed into communal tight cages piled on top of each other, and then skinned and boiled alive).
Yes – St Francis of Assissi has good vibes for animals .
Argentina on the other hand , aided & abetted Josef Mengeles.
And he wasn’t the only Nazi they were fond of.
How can it when the new guy is babbling about “social justice” and against the free market?
We have video of Pope Francis I FIRST PUBLIC APPEARANCE posted now on CC…
http://commoncts.blogspot.com/2013/03/video-pope-francis-i-makes-his-first.html
Don’t cry for me Argentina ……
The original recording of Evita by Julie Covington who refused Andrew Lloyd Webber’s invite to do the stage production , is stil the best.
Saint Francis of Assisi is more complicated than just the saint of the animals. Yes, he is recorded as having given sermons to birds and fish (and they listened–documented in a book “Little Flowers of Saint Francis” written by one of his contemporaries). He was born to great wealth, which he gave up completely to great ridicule. He set up the first Christmas manger to teach that Jesus was humble. He received the stigmata, or the wounds of Christ, considered the sign of a holy man (google St. Padre Pio for contemporary photographs of stigmata). He is remembered as hearing Jesus speak to him asking him to “rebuild My church”–a request to literally rebuild a crumbling chapel near Assisi, but taken as more generally asking him to evangelize.
Saint Francis Xavier is known as an evangelist to the Indian subcontinent and Japan. He wanted to go to China at great risk to his life, but never made it there.
St. Francis deSales became a priest, although his father wanted him to be a lawyer (he had received a doctorate in law after study in Padua). He was known for his humble demeanor, believing in catching more flies with honey than with vinegar.
Outreach, evangilization, humility; not bad role models for the “Servant of the Servants of Christ.”
Thanks! For a few years, now, I’ve carried a little prayer card I got (along with the famous pumpkin bread) from Monastery of the Angles in a suburb of Los Angeles with St. Pio of Pietrelcina’s picture on one side and a prayer for healing on the other side.
There is this joke about a man who went on a trip.
As the man is flying above the Earth, the has a catastrophic failure and the man is ejected from the plane. As the man is falling, he begins to pray … help me St Francis. Out of a cloud comes a large God-like hand which catches the man. A booming voice can be heard to say … St Francis of Assisi or St Francis Xavier ? The is startled. After a moment to think, he replied … St Francis Xavier. The flips over and releases the man.
[…] To start with, noted Catholic author and a good friend of the Shrine, John Zmirak will join us to discuss the new pope, the “Bishop of Rome”. More on this big event is detailed at Legal Insurrection: Argentina’s Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio becomes Pope Francis – Updated […]
No matter what a person’s sexual orientation, the celibate culture runs the risk of stunting its development and turning sexual impulses into furtive, tortured gestures.
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/26/opinion/bruni-the-wages-of-celibacy.html
Clearly, Frank Bruni has no idea what the words “celibacy” and “celibate” actually mean.