U.S. Province Apostolates reacted with joy to the election of the new leader of the Catholic Church, Pope Francis I.
“The name that a new Pope selects is very revealing. St. Francis was a humble man and friend of the poor. The new Pope’s selection of this name is a sign that he will extend his devotion for the poor and marginalized people of Argentina to the entire Church,” said Rev. John Ryan, C.S.C., President of King’s College, Wilkes-Barre, Pa.
“Stonehill College joins in the jubilation of the universal Church as we welcome Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio, our new supreme pontiff, Pope Francis. A member of the Society of Jesus, he is known for his deep love for the poor. The first Latin American pope, he regularly rode the public transport in Argentina and espoused asimplicity of life philosophy. He will be a faithful, charitable and inspiredleader of the Church, one who stresses the Gospel’s call to charity and reminds us of the dignity of each human person. Our prayers are with him as he assumes the leadership of more than 1.2 billion Catholics worldwide. Proud of our Catholic tradition, the College sees this new phase in the life of the Church as an opportunity to inspire us as we refine and deepen our Catholic identity and mission,” said Stonehill College President Rev. Mark Cregan, C.S.C. Stonehill is in North Easton, Mass.
“We at Notre Dame join the Church in rejoicing in the election of Pope Francis, the first pontiff from the Americas,” said University of Notre Dame President Rev. John Jenkins. “He is known as a humble and holy servant of the Church whose simple life and concern for the poor make his choice of the name Francis particularly appropriate. We pray for Pope Francis as he begins his pontificate.”
A local television station spoke to students from King’s College after the announcement of the new Pope. See the video and read the story on WNEP’s website.
You can hear the bells that tolled at the University of Portland (Ore.) and at the University of Notre Dame when word came of the selection of a new Pope.
The Basilica of the Sacred Heart at Notre Dame also planned a Mass at 11:30 a.m. today in honor of Pope Francis.
Staff at Ave Maria Press, Notre Dame, Ind., and Family Theater Productions, Hollywood, Calif., gathered in their respective offices to watch the presentation of Pope Francis to the world.
