Pope Francis Elected: Marin Catholics React

Wednesday was a day of firsts for the Catholic Church as a Jesuit cardinal from Buenos Aires is the new pope.

Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, 76, the son of an Italian railway worker, becomes the first Jesuit and first South American pontiff, according to news reports.

He has taken the name Francis, another first.

Marin's Catholic leaders said the announcement was a momentous occasion for the church in more ways than one, from his heritage and his deep connection to the poor.

“It's very exciting to have a pope elected who is from Latin America,” said Rev. Ken Weare, the pastor at St. Rita Church in Fairfax. “He’s coming from a continent that has the most Catholics in the world, which is great for those people and for the church in general.”

Weare added that he expects the church to refocus on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ and his concern for the impoverished.

“He has remained very faithful to his commitment to simplicity and to people who are poor – and he’s the model of humility,” he said. “He himself has lived a simple life, living in a small apartment and using public transportation – he would be welcome in the San Francisco Bay Area for his concern for the environment.”

Father John Balleza, pastor of the Saint Raphael Church, said the selection of Pope Francis is exactly what the church needs. 

“He’s the answer to our prayers we have been looking for,” Balleza said. 

Balleza said he was also enthusiastic that the church has elected its first Jesuit because he had been at the forefront of theology and that he’s the first pope from the Americas. 

“Now we have come of age. We are going to make a turnaround,” he said. “This is a very exciting time of renewal. It’s time for us to get back on track.” 

The news spread quickly on the Facebook pages of our Patch sites in Marin. Novato Patch reader Bert Botta wrote, "I think it's cool that they picked a man whose roots are Italian but comes from South America. I would like to see him less conservative and more open to inclusive change in the church but time will tell. 

San Anselmo-Fairfax Patch reader Liza Ryan Wozniak agreed: "Latin American and a Jesuit = both good signs!" and San Rafael Patch reader Martha Angell Peterson wrote, "Good to have a Jesuit."

The London Guardian and National Catholic Reporter described Bergoglio as a Jesuit intellectual who travels by bus, cooks his own meals and lives simply. After being appointed cardinal in 2001, "Bergoglio persuaded hundreds of Argentinians not to fly to Rome to celebrate with him but instead to give the money they would have spent on plane tickets to the poor," the Guardian said.

He also strongly opposed Argentina's decision to legalize gay marriage, saying children should be raised by a father and a mother.

He originally planned to be a chemist, but began studying for the priesthood in 1958, according to the National Catholic Reporter.

In addition to his advocacy for the poor, Bergoglio believes in contraception to prevent the spread of disease, faces no questions over abuse scandals and would reform the Vatican Curia, according to the Guardian.

Shortly after he addressed the crowd at St. Peter's Square, the Vatican issued a tweet via its papal Twitter account. It said in Latin, "HABEMUS PAPAM FRANCISCUM," which translates roughly as "We have Pope Francis," according to the Los Angeles Times.

TELL US WHAT YOU THINK IN THE COMMENTS

Are you surprised by the choice of the first Jesuit and South American pope? What do you think of the choice?