VATICAN CITY The world's 1.2 billion Catholics have a new leader. His name is Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, but he will be known henceforth as Pope Francis.
Bergoglio, the former Archbishop of Buenos Aires and a member of the largest Catholic order, the Jesuits, is the first pope from the new world. Born in Argentina to parents of Italian descent, he represents a bridge between the Church's European roots and its future, which lies, according to many, in Latin America, Asia and Africa.
Bergoglio's chosen name, Francis, is a nod to the patron saint of Italy, Saint Francis of Assisi.
"I know him," Monsignor Anthony Figueiredo, a director of the North American College in Rome and a CBS News Vatican consultant told CBSNews.com shortly after Pope Francis appeared. "He is complete simplicity; down to Earth, a man with the people."
It took the 115 cardinal electors locked inside the ornate Sistine Chapel just a day and a half to send a cloud of white smoke up a chimney and into the air over St. Peter's Square, signaling the conclusive vote -- at least 77 of them agreed that Bergoglio was the right man to succeed Pope Benedict XVI.
One of Francis' first phone calls as pope was to his predecessor, the now-Pope Emeritus Benedict. The Rev. Thomas Rosica, deputy Vatican spokesman, said the new pontiff was already "writing the playbook" with his unscripted move. The Vatican later announced an installation Mass, traditionally attended by VIPs and faithful from the pope's home country, would be held on March 19.
Thousands of the faithful and the curious huddled underneath umbrellas in a rain-drenched St. Peter's Square erupted in applause and cheers upon seeing the white plume drift over the Chapel. Three American tourists told CBS News correspondent Mark Phillips they were in Rome on vacation and just came to the square to "see if we'd get lucky." They got lucky, and witnessed history.
Within an hour, Cardinal Jean Louis Tauran, the senior cardinal deacon of the Church, stepped onto the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica and announced in Latin the name of the man elected to lead the faith -- the 266th pope and the 265th successor to the apostle Peter, from whom the basilica and the square take their name. Catholics believe Jesus Christ himself chose Peter to lead his church on Earth.
CBS News correspondent Allen Pizzey notes that no pope in the Church's near-2,000 year history has ever been so bold as to claim the name of the original pontiff for himself -- there has never been a Peter II.
Shortly after Tauran's announcement the new Holy Father appeared on the balcony, clad in his papal vestments, to give his first blessing. He then asked the thousands gathered below, in Italian, to give him their blessing in return.
After accepting the position before his fellow cardinals and informing them of his chosen papal name, Pope Francis will have gone to pray in the Pauline Chapel, across from the Sistine Chapel, before greeting the crowd.
In spite of a much-discussed divide among the prelates heading into the conclave, pitting traditionalists from the Vatican establishment against those more interested in reform, the cardinals have concluded their election in a time frame typical, if not shorter than, the past six conclaves.
The decisive action to install Bergoglio may be taken as a deliberate move by the clerics to disprove the widespread claims of a bitter division within the College of Cardinals.
The new pontiff inherits a church still reeling from the child sexual abuse scandal and mired in financial and bureaucratic mismanagement which his predecessor Pope Benedict XVI failed to address before he shocked the world by becoming the first pope to retire in almost 600 years.
In Pope Francis, the cardinals will hope for a man capable of addressing the internal problems of governance brought to light by the torrid Vatileaks scandal last year, and a man with enough of the persona and charm of Pope John Paul II to swell church attendance.
Pope Francis has a history of stressing evangelism as opposed to liberation theology which focuses on social justice. As a Catholic, I feel that people can come to their own beliefs and have no desire to "sell" my religious views to anyone else as it's presumptuous to think that my theology is better than theirs. Personally, I know no Catholic with any appetite to go about proselytizing to convert people of other faiths.
The only thing I want from the Church is a relatable parish priest who can be a resource to me and my family in our faith when needed, who gives sermons connected to real world problems, and who can energize meaningful social justice outreach projects for the parish.
In my opinion, the only thing needed from the Pope and bishops is to provide a well-trained, warm, non-deviant and competent pastor and not a lot of abstruse theology. Acting as a missionary is not anywhere on my religious priority list.
I hear you and agree totally. The Church doesn't need a politically correct Pope who bends with today's winds...whether it be liberation theology or gay marriage.
My best wishes to the new Pope. Let him remain humble and stay strong.
I actually feel a deep dread for the new Pope. Benedict came into information that made him bail. The butler tried to reveal to the masses the truth of the corruption,and was given some 'Guantanamo' treatment.Where is he now?
Just like Obama coming in on an absolute mess,and people expecting him to wave a magic wand and everything is made perfect,this new Pope will be expected to undo mountains of evil.
Like Boris Yeltsin having the 'Good Old Boys' roll tanks up to put things back like they liked them,this man will have the same done to him.
There will be those who resist him.
You ever notice how John Paul and Benedict looked so good when they came in,and when they left they looked so worn out?
Francis already knows something,that's why he said, "Pray for me".
Benedict felt someone stronger and in good health was needed. No doubt there are problems in the CURIA but if he appoints a reformer to that position he can take care of it.
Benedict felt someone stronger and in good health was needed. No doubt there are problems in the CURIA but if he appoints a reformer to that position he can take care of it. And Obama didn't have grey hair when he became Prez
jschm2681 replies: No taking out American citizens in the US with drones without due process is not criminal. Selling out access to the Prez for 500,000 is not criminal.
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Neither of these is proven to have occurred, twit.
There's no doubt, however, that this cult launders drug money, handles political slush funds, and conspires around the world to hide and protect child rapists from their just-deserved punishment.
Choke on it.
Twit? Typical insulting liberal! No arguments so you insult. Obama has sold access to himself, and he can order a drone attack on Americans. But just ignore. I know the Church is fixing their problems. But the Democrats aren't fixing theirs. So choke on that.
jschm2681 replies: Do all members of the military have to salute Obama?
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Only as long as he holds the title of CIC. Fortunately, US military personnel don't salute CEO's of known criminal enterprises, however.
NotLobamatomized says: He didn't want to go because some mental midget told him that all priests are child molester and they going to "get him" if he goes there
--- A slight exaggeration, perhaps.
In the US alone over 5,000 priests have faced accusations. Catholics like to try to minimize that fact. I'd be ashamed to admit the truth as well if I were one.
Saying they "have faced accusations" is actually being wayyyyyy too generous.
Virtually to man, none have been men enough to admit their deeds which shows how low this cult sets the bar for being considered to be "holy".....
What a total crock.
In the US 5,000 have been accused many were innocent. For the last 11 years those that were accused have been taken away from their posts until proven innocent or if guilty deemed unfit to be a priest able to do anything in the Catholic Church for the rest of there life. For those that were innocent their lives were still ruined.
To be Catholic does not mean to be without sin or to be free of the work of evil. That is why Jesus came to administer mercy and hope to the sinners. Yes even to murderers or worse. So the problem is not why has this happened in the Catholic Church, but why is it so rampant in the world! In my town alone there are over 1,600 registered sex offenders and I know they are not Catholic priests.
We need to stop throwing stones and realize that this is being taken very seriously as it always has been, but now finally those who were not punished are paying for what they did. But those who are innocent do not deserve to be slandered. Ultimately justice for us all will be after we die and account for our lives. That is what we should be looking toward.... that end and how we lived OUR lives.
I am a thinking, reading, observant 63 year old. This guy is 76 and has probably been owned and subsidized and operated by the Catholic Church since he was a child. Anti-gay and anti-abortion? Of course he is. Blind to abuse of children? Of course he is. This is progress? The Catholic Church is one of the largest land holders on the entire planet and it is probably the original "Old Boy's Club" complete with secret handshakes, passwords, and smoke signals. And celibacy. And homosexuality. And pedophilia. This is progress? Really? I have noted the comments of others who think that this guy will have some effect on the Latinos in the US. I don't know why anyone would think that. The Latinos that I know, associate with daily , work with, and admire for their work ethic fled Mexico or South America because of the oppresson of their governments and the oppression of the Catholic Church. This is progress? Innovative thought does not come from a 76 year old anyone, especially one bought and paid for to stand up to be the next Dummy/Mouthpiece.
Pope Francis gives his first blessing
--- So, because a group of codgers say so, this guy automatically gets some mysterious power so he can "bless" people when he waves his hand?
And sane people actually buy that?
I don't eat Egg McMuffins, but I find the article about a yolk-free version to be about as newsworthy.....
This cult will not out its filth and their conspirators regardless of who sits on the throne.
Benedict is 85. They did want a reformer. The Pope is very much in touch with the poor. He travelled by public transit, lived in a small apartment, and cooked his own meals. At Holy Thursday services he washed the feet of aids patients. He is very much in touch with the people.
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The only thing I want from the Church is a relatable parish priest who can be a resource to me and my family in our faith when needed, who gives sermons connected to real world problems, and who can energize meaningful social justice outreach projects for the parish.
In my opinion, the only thing needed from the Pope and bishops is to provide a well-trained, warm, non-deviant and competent pastor and not a lot of abstruse theology. Acting as a missionary is not anywhere on my religious priority list.
My best wishes to the new Pope. Let him remain humble and stay strong.
Benedict came into information that made him bail.
The butler tried to reveal to the masses the truth of the corruption,and was given some 'Guantanamo' treatment.Where is he now?
Just like Obama coming in on an absolute mess,and people expecting him to wave a magic wand and everything is made perfect,this new Pope will be expected to undo mountains of evil.
Like Boris Yeltsin having the 'Good Old Boys' roll tanks up to put things back like they liked them,this man will have the same done to him.
There will be those who resist him.
You ever notice how John Paul and Benedict looked so good when they came in,and when they left they looked so worn out?
Francis already knows something,that's why he said, "Pray for me".
---
Neither of these is proven to have occurred, twit.
There's no doubt, however, that this cult launders drug money, handles political slush funds, and conspires around the world to hide and protect child rapists from their just-deserved punishment.
Choke on it.
I know the Church is fixing their problems. But the Democrats aren't fixing theirs. So choke on that.
---
Only as long as he holds the title of CIC. Fortunately, US military personnel don't salute CEO's of known criminal enterprises, however.
---
A slight exaggeration, perhaps.
In the US alone over 5,000 priests have faced accusations. Catholics like to try to minimize that fact. I'd be ashamed to admit the truth as well if I were one.
Virtually to man, none have been men enough to admit their deeds which shows how low this cult sets the bar for being considered to be "holy".....
What a total crock.
To be Catholic does not mean to be without sin or to be free of the work of evil. That is why Jesus came to administer mercy and hope to the sinners. Yes even to murderers or worse. So the problem is not why has this happened in the Catholic Church, but why is it so rampant in the world! In my town alone there are over 1,600 registered sex offenders and I know they are not Catholic priests.
We need to stop throwing stones and realize that this is being taken very seriously as it always has been, but now finally those who were not punished are paying for what they did. But those who are innocent do not deserve to be slandered. Ultimately justice for us all will be after we die and account for our lives. That is what we should be looking toward.... that end and how we lived OUR lives.
I have noted the comments of others who think that this guy will have some effect on the Latinos in the US. I don't know why anyone would think that.
The Latinos that I know, associate with daily , work with, and admire for their work ethic fled Mexico or South America because of the oppresson of their governments and the oppression of the Catholic Church. This is progress? Innovative thought does not come from a 76 year old anyone, especially one bought and paid for to stand up to be the next Dummy/Mouthpiece.
---
So, because a group of codgers say so, this guy automatically gets some mysterious power so he can "bless" people when he waves his hand?
And sane people actually buy that?
This cult will not out its filth and their conspirators regardless of who sits on the throne.
I sure don't.
And if I'm correct, he's as bad as all the others.
***?