Jorge Bergogolio, who
served as archbishop of Buenos Aires, took the name Francis shortly
after being elected by cardinals in what was apparently the fifth round
of voting on the second day of the conclave.
"As you know, the duty of
the conclave was to appoint a bishop of Rome," Francis told a cheering
crowd of thousands packed into St. Peter's Square.
"It seems to me that my
brother cardinals have chosen one who is from faraway. ... Here I am. I
would like to thank you for your embrace."
The new pope waves to cheering crowd
Pope Francis to followers: 'Here I am'
White smoke signals election of new pope
Pope Francis I's first tweet
The new pope called on
the thousands packed into the square -- and those watching around the
world -- to pray for him before he delivered a blessing.
Bergogolio, 76, is the
first pope to take the name after St. Francis of Assisi, revered among
Catholics for his work with the poor.
The new pontiff is
considered a straight shooter who calls things as he sees them, and a
follower of the church's most conservative wing.
As cardinal, he clashed
with the government of Argentine President Cristina Fernandez de
Kirchner over his opposition to gay marriage and free distribution of
contraceptives.
Bergogolio also becomes the first pope from Latin America.
With its approximately
480 million adherents, Latin America is home to an overwhelming
plurality of the world's Catholics. By choosing him, the cardinals sent a
strong message about where the future of the church may lie.
According to a profile
by CNN Vatican analyst John Allen and published by the National Catholic
Reporter, Francis was born in Buenos Aires to an Italian immigrant
father.
He is known for his
simplicity. He chose to live in an apartment rather that the
archbishop's palace, passed on a chauffeured limousine, took the bus to
work and cooked his own meals, Allen wrote.
Francis has a reputation for being a voice for the poor.
Word of the election of
Pope Francis quickly spread around the globe, with everyone from U.N.
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to U.S. President Barack Obama offering
congratulations.
"As the first pope from
the Americas, his selection also speaks to the strength and vitality of a
region that is increasingly shaping our world, and alongside millions
of Hispanic Americans, those of us in the United States share the joy of
this historic day," Obama said.
Ban said the new pope shares common goals with the United Nations, from the promotion of peace to social justice.
"We also share the
conviction that we can only resolve the interconnected challenges of
today's world through dialogue," he said.
Nowhere was the reaction
to Bergogolio's selecton as pope more surprising than in Latin America,
with a plurality of the world's 1.2 billion Catholics.
"I am truly still very
surprised...not just that a Latino pope came out, but that he is an
Argentinian from Buenos Aires," the Rev. Eduardo Mangiarotti told CNN en
Espanol.
Bergogolio's selection
of the name of Pope Francis is "the most stunning" choice and "precedent
shattering," Allen said. "The new pope is sending a signal that this
will not be business as usual."
The name symbolizes "poverty, humility, simplicity and rebuilding the Catholic Church," Allen said.
St. Francis of Assisi was born in 1181 or 1182 the son of a rich Italian cloth merchant, according to the Vatican website.
After "a carefree
adolescence and youth," Francis joined the military and was taken
prisoner. He was freed after becoming ill, and when he returned to
Assisi, Italy, a spiritual conversion began, and he abandoned his
worldly lifestyle.
In a famous episode,
Christ on the Cross came to life three times in the small Church of St.
Damian and told him: "Go, Francis, and repair my Church in ruins," Pope
Benedict XVI said, according to Vatican's website.
No comments:
Post a Comment