Papal Transition
Philadelphia priest in Rome witnesses profound moment with 200,000 others
Call it serendipity. Call it the work of the Holy Spirit. Call it the luck of the Irish (the most likely of the three). Father John Kelly, a priest of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia just happens to be in Rome on sabbatical during this, the election and upcoming installation of Pope Francis. There he was […]
Archbishop Chaput recalls time he met the future Pope Francis
Archbishop Charles Chaput was just as surprised as almost everyone else by the March 13 election of Argentinean Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio as Pope Francis, but nevertheless pleased. “Pope Francis, the former Cardinal Bergoglio, is a man from the new heartland of the global Church; a priest of extraordinary intellectual and cultural strengths,” the archbishop said in a statement yesterday.
Philadelphia Catholics reflect on roots, outlook of Pope Francis
The election of a pope is always a time of joy for Catholics. The election of Pope Francis is special. He is the first pope from the Americas, the first Hispanic pope, and in particular the first Argentinean pope. Locally, Argentineans are thrilled that one of their countrymen is now the Supreme Pontiff.
Pope Francis: Choosing a Jesuit as a reformer — on many levels
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- The church has turned to religious orders for popes at various times over the centuries, often when in need of a reformer, and such may have been the cardinals' thinking again when they elected Pope Francis.
After conclave, cardinals get caught up, get to know new pope
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- While the cardinal electors were intensely praying and choosing the next pope, they were utterly unaware of the huge crowds waiting outside braving the rain and whether the smoke really worked, said Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan of New York. He said later at a dinner with Pope Francis, "We toasted him and then he toasted us and he said, 'May God forgive you'" for having elected him pope, which "brought the house down" with laughter.
Who is Pope Francis?
Vatican City, 13 March 2013 (Vatican Information Service) – Following is the official biography of Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, S.J. Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, S.J., Archbishop of Buenos Aires, Argentina, Ordinary for Eastern-rite faithful in Argentina who lack an Ordinary of their own rite, was born on 17 December 1936 in Buenos Aires. He studied […]
Pope Francis starts first day with Marian prayer, bill paying
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Francis began his first full day as pope with an early morning act of Marian devotion -- and by paying the bill at the clergy hotel where he had stayed before entering the conclave that elected him. The new pope left the Domus Sanctae Marthae at 8 a.m. March 14 for a five-minute drive to the Basilica of St. Mary Major, where he prayed before an icon of Mary and the child Jesus.
Latin Americans say pope’s election is recognition of global South
SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic (CNS) -- Latin Americans said the election of the first pope from the region is recognition of the role the global South plays in the church's future. Pope Francis, the 76-year-old Argentine who served as archbishop of Buenos Aires as Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, comes as both a surprise and a source of hope for Latin American Catholics.
Jesuits surprised that first of their brethren is elected pope
WASHINGTON (CNS) — The Jesuit brethren of the new Pope Francis were as surprised as anyone when Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Buenos Aires, Argentina, was announced March 13 as the first Jesuit to be elected pope. Jesuit Father Gerard Stockhausen, executive secretary of the Jesuit Conference USA, told Catholic News Service that when Cardinal […]
New pope’s initial schedule released
Coming events for Pope Francis include a closed Mass with the cardinals March 14, a briefing for journalists March 16 and the formal papal installation Mass March 19.