Argentine Jorge Bergoglio elected Pope Francis
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Pope Francis waves to the crowd from the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Wednesday, March 13, 2013. Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio, who chose the name of Francis is the 266th pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church.
VATICAN CITY — Jorge Bergoglio of Argentina was elected pope Wednesday and chose the name Francis, becoming the first pontiff from the Americas and the first from outside Europe in more than a millennium.
Looking stunned, Francis shyly waved to the crowd of tens of thousands of people who gathered in St. Peter's Square, marveling that the cardinals needed to look to "the end of the earth" to find a bishop of Rome.
In choosing a 76-year-old pope, the cardinals clearly decided that they didn't need a vigorous, young pope who would reign for decades but rather a seasoned, popular pastor who would draw followers to the faith. The cardinal electors overcame deep divisions to select the 266th pontiff in a remarkably fast, five-ballot conclave.
Francis asked for prayers for himself, and for retired Pope Benedict XVI, whose surprising resignation paved the way for the conclave that brought the first Jesuit to the papacy.
"Brothers and sisters, good evening," Francis said to wild cheers in his first public remarks as pontiff. "You know that the work of the conclave is to give a bishop to Rome. It seems as if my brother cardinals went to find him from the end of the earth. Thank you for the welcome."
Bergoglio had reportedly finished second in the 2005 conclave that produced Benedict — who last month became the first pope to resign in 600 years.
After announcing "Habemus Papam" — "We have a pope!" — a cardinal standing on the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica on Wednesday revealed the identity of the new pontiff, using his Latin name.
The longtime archbishop of Buenos Aires has spent nearly his entire career at home in Argentina, overseeing churches and shoe-leather priests.
Like other Jesuit intellectuals, Bergoglio has focused on social outreach. Catholics are still buzzing over his speech last year accusing fellow church officials of hypocrisy for forgetting that Jesus Christ bathed lepers and ate with prostitutes.
Bergoglio has slowed a bit with age and is feeling the effects of having a lung removed due to infection when he was a teenager.
In a lifetime of teaching and leading priests in Latin America, which has the largest share of the world's Catholics, Bergoglio has also shown a keen political sensibility as well as the kind of self-effacing humility that fellow cardinals value highly, according to his official biographer, Sergio Rubin.
He showed that humility on Wednesday, saying that before he blessed the crowd he wanted their prayers for him and bowed his head.
"Good night, and have a good rest," he said before going back into the palace.
Tens of thousands of people who braved cold rain to watch the smokestack atop the Sistine Chapel jumped in joy when white smoke poured out a few minutes past 7 p.m., many shouting "Habemus Papam!" or "We have a pope!" — as the bells of St. Peter's Basilica and churches across Rome pealed.
They cheered again when the doors to the loggia opened, and again when Bergoglio's name was announced.
"I can't explain how happy I am right now," said Ben Canete, a 32-year-old Filipino, jumping up and down in excitement.
Elected on the fifth ballot, Francis was chosen in one of the fastest conclaves in years, remarkable given there was no clear front-runner going into the vote and that the church had been in turmoil following the upheaval unleashed by Pope Benedict XVI's surprise resignation.
A winner must receive 77 votes, or two-thirds of the 115, to be named pope.
For comparison's sake, Benedict was elected on the fourth ballot in 2005 — but he was the clear front-runner going into the vote. Pope John Paul II was elected on the eighth ballot in 1978 to become the first non-Italian pope in 455 years.
Patrizia Rizzo ran down the main boulevard to the piazza with her two children as soon as she heard the news on the car radio. "I parked the car ... and dashed to the square, she said. "It's so exciting, as Romans we had to come."
The Vatican spokesman the Rev. Federico Lombardi said it was a "good hypothesis" that the pope would be installed next Tuesday, on the feast of St. Joseph, patron saint of the universal church.
Unlike the confusion that reigned during the 2005 conclave, the smoke this time around has been clear: black during the first two rounds of burned ballots, and then a clear white on Wednesday night — thanks to special smoke flares akin to those used in soccer matches or protests that were lit in the chapel ovens.
The Vatican on Wednesday divulged the secret recipe used: potassium perchlorate, anthracene, which is a derivative of coal tar, and sulfur for the black smoke; potassium chlorate, lactose and a pine resin for the white smoke.
The chemicals are contained in five units of a cartridge that is placed inside the stove of the Sistine Chapel. When activated, the five blocks ignite one after another for about a minute apiece, creating the steady stream of smoke that accompanies the natural smoke from the burned ballot papers.
Despite the great plumes of smoke that poured out of the chimney, neither the Sistine frescoes nor the cardinals inside the chapel suffered any smoke damage, Lombardi said.
Reporters Karl Ritter and Daniela Petroff contributed.
Mar 19, 2013 at 2:09 p.m.
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Maynard, imagining a non-existent afterlife may be comforting but even Jesus didn't come back. He said that he'd return within the lifetime of some of the people he actually spoke to in person -he didn't make it.
A pope should only be tolerated as the so-called vicar of Christ if he sells all the splendor of the buildings and other valuables of the Vatican and donates the money to the betterment of humanity. And he should live humbly in a shack. If Jesus were immortal, it's only thing he'd approve of.
Mar 18, 2013 at 1:44 p.m.
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gazettefan: Apology accepted. This is the first Pope ever to take the name Francis and I hope he follows through on his call for a poor church for poor people. I struggle with my faith but always try to remember that it is not the people at any level (layman up to Pope) that constitute my faith. They and the buildings and the vestments, etc. are not the basis of my faith. Has and continues to be a lifelong journey for me. Lots of questions though. As an example: grief is somewhat eased by thought of seeing loved ones again in an after life. However, if being in the presence of God / Jesus is going to be so awe-inspiring ... would I even notice loved ones? And the beat goes on.
Mar 18, 2013 at 9:48 a.m.
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Maynard, apologies, I read and posted too fast. Your comments don't have personal attacks. Unlike some of the believers here who have nothing but personal attacks, like billnewbie and donnaw. They can't match your ability to talk intelligently about the subject.
As for pope name-changes, they all do that, don't they? as a way emulating the emphases of former popes.
But what really changes? The pope and Vatican have immense wealth and influence while poor people not only die but suffer as a result of unrealistic pronouncements allegedly on behalf of the all mighty creator of the universe.
Mar 18, 2013 at 8:49 a.m.
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gazettefan: read back through my original comment at 5:18 p.m. Expressed my response to your comment and to a question asking why Pope changes his name. Could not find any personal attack on you in my comment. How could I? Do not know anything against you and this forum should not be a place for personal attacks anyway. So why the personal attack? Just curious. Peace
Mar 18, 2013 at 6:58 a.m.
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tthompson....boy, you could have fooled me. He's an angry guy! Did you wear a flak jacket when you met with him?
Mar 17, 2013 at 6:17 p.m.
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Gfan on another thread you compliane about Christians not caring about the poor. Here is a man who has dedicated his life to helping the poor. You still continue to bash him. I am not catholic but this man has done nothing but live the life you preach about, cant deal with it we understand you hypocratic self serving anti belief piece of dog guano
Mar 17, 2013 at 5:56 p.m.
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gazettefan: So glad you know me well enough to tell me what I do or do not believe, what I do or not do, and to call me a fool. I must have struck a nerve. I always have liked the statement that God created man in His own image and likeness on the 6th day, rested on the 7th, and man created God in his own image and likeness on the 8th day ... and has been doing so ever since. Don't like the rules in your religion ... create a new one ... So you have your right to the gazettefan religion. Part of free will. I would not call you a fool for it as I know nothing about you or your beliefs and was also brought up to never call another person a fool. Peace
Mar 17, 2013 at 11:13 a.m.
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donnaw and maynard, very few of the 1.2 billion abide by anything any pope says. You know you don't. What are you defending? A 2000 year old attempt to control people's thoughts by maneuvering interpretations of the bible to appease the public just the right amount for the purpose of keeping the money rolling in?
Sometimes I wish Jesus could come back just so he would slap all his fools around. Including the both of you.
I don't watch Letterman or any of those hacks. Why do you? Those programs and almost all the programs on TV have no religious themes. Why? Because no one wants to see that stuff. Including you two.
And know this: The basis for the term "religious bigotry" stems from the hostility of members of a religion toward members of other religions.
Mar 17, 2013 at 11:02 a.m.
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Thanks, tthompson. And what donnaw doesn't seem to know is that over 90% of the people in prison are christians. And that prisons are over crowded due to recidivism -repeat offenders. And that the prayer for forgiveness mechanism is perfectly suited for recidivism.
It's also clear that donnaw hasn't much to offer other than dumb remarks.
Mar 16, 2013 at 6:41 a.m.
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Maynard...you are so right. And if Letterman had done the same monologue about Muslims he would be skewered by the all media and issued an apology. But Christians seem to be easy targets! The religious punching bags!
Mar 15, 2013 at 5:18 p.m.
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gazettefan: I am guessing Jesus would not be happy with all the money spent while children are dying. Definitely not happy with the millions of children lost to abortion. Probably not happy with using food for fuel (corn into ethanol) while so many are starving. Probably not happy with all the money our government wastes. We have not made many good choices with the free will we have. BTW, think the Pope does a name change in part to signify the direction he wants to take the church. Was so glad to hear him take on the name Francis after Francis of Assisi and hope he can get the church back towards tending more to the poor. Curious though .... why is it politically incorrect to show bigotry towards other races, other religions, women, gays, native Americans, etc. but seems perfectly okay to be bigotted against 1.2 billion Catholics of all races and sex ???? Watched the first part of Letterman's monoloque this week after the Pope was elected until I became so disgusted that I turned to Leno for a bit more respect.
Mar 15, 2013 at 2:30 p.m.
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I've had the pleasure of meeting gazettefan. He has an opinion on this topic, same as many of us have opinions on certain things and he likes to share it, same as many of us like to share our opinions, but he's a good guy and if you bumped into him in the REAL world and not this digital world he wouldn't even mention the fact that Jesus Christ could have just been the first David Koresh and in fact, you may even enjoy your visit with him as much as I did. Either way, I'm confident he's not 'sad' because of his beliefs...
Mar 15, 2013 at 2:15 p.m.
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gazettefan...it must sad to be you
Mar 15, 2013 at 2:15 p.m.
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gazettefan...as I said before.....
Mar 15, 2013 at 12:24 p.m.
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donnaw, is the point of your last comment to prove that you think that Jesus, the mortal man, was as dumb as you are?
Mar 14, 2013 at 5:20 p.m.
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gazettedfan...as someone else once said...you are so negative you would complain that a new rope wasn't being used at your hanging.
Mar 14, 2013 at 12:56 p.m.
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I do not know gazettefan but even the most brilliant minds submersed in logic and rational thought have not been able to quell what devastates our Earth.
Mar 14, 2013 at 12:40 p.m.
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If Jesus came back, what do you think he'd say about the pageantry while thousands of babies die each day from starvation and dirty water?
Mar 14, 2013 at 5:50 a.m.
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I'm not Catholic but we enjoyed watching the pageantry of picking a pope. God bless Pope Francis!
Mar 13, 2013 at 11:30 p.m.
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Picking a modest Jesuit priest gives me hope that this man will make smart choices when dealing with all the issues that face the Catholic Church. Jesuits are known for their work in education, intellectual research, cultural pursuits, and missionary efforts. The world will be watching how Pope Francis meets all the new and controversial challenges. Let's hope it's with compassion, as is a Jesuit's way.
Mar 13, 2013 at 10:44 p.m.
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ImJustSayin: didn't Paul Ryan just endorse the new Pope's views?
Mar 13, 2013 at 5:34 p.m.
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billnewbie - Don't worry, us pirate fish are circling now. We're having too much fun right now with the news the Vatican just bought England's largest gay bath house. Some Catholic officials are actually the bathhouse’s neighbors! The lucky guy living above the sauna is none other than one of the cardinals tasked with helping to pick the next Pope, Cardinal Ivan Dias.
Mar 13, 2013 at 4:04 p.m.
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So why do they change their names?
Mar 13, 2013 at 3:52 p.m.
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This is odd. No smart alecky comments from the usual cynical know-it-alls that like to trawl the Gazette comment boards for people to offend. They must be busy being offensive elsewhere. Still I'm sure they'll leave some droppings disguised as comments here before too long. The urge to be offensive is much to strong for them to resist. Here fishy, fishy!
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