SPEAK OUT: Cardinals Pick Bergoglio, Now Pope Francis
Catholics around the world celebrate the selection; will it impact the church in Mount Vernon or elsewhere?
The College of Cardinals at the Vatican in Rome has chosen Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, of Argentina, as the Roman Catholic Church new pope. White smoke rose from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel, the traditional signal that the selection has been made, shortly after 2 p.m. today (a little after 7 p.m. in Rome).
According to his Vatican bio, Pope Francis was born Dec. 17, 1936, in Buenos Aires; he was ordained for the Jesuits Dec. 13, 1969. Bergolgio served as President of the Bishops' Conference of Argentina from November 2005 until November 2011.
The name of the church’s new leader remained a mystery for about an hour until he appeared on the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica. Saint Louis Catholic Church and Good Shepherd Catholic Church were two Mount Vernon-area Catholic churches awaiting word.
What are the greatest challenges the new pope will face? What will it mean here in Mount Vernon? What do you think of the choice? Speak out in the comments below and let us know what you think.
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St. Louis Catholic Church
2907 Popkins Ln, Alexandria, VA -
Good Shepherd Catholic Church
8710 Mount Vernon Hwy, Alexandria, VA
Bill Zaccagnino
10:16 am on Thursday, March 14, 2013
I have great hope for Francis I. His name speaks volumes, honoring St. Francis of Assisi, who was wealthy, gave it up, and chose to serve God and the poor.
Amanda M. Socci, Freelance Writer
10:24 am on Thursday, March 14, 2013
From a rhetorical or newsy point of view, I believe the new pope will face challenges in administration, as his papacy is one that came about as a result of voluntary resignation of the former pope. It has already been said that there is some "clean-up" that must be done.
As a practicing Catholic and one who is hopeful for the future, I am overjoyed with the election of the new pope. I see this more as symbolic that the new pope being "a man of the people" will bring much-needed peace and comfort to the masses.