EDMONTON – Jorge Bergoglio of Argentina was elected pope early Wednesday afternoon. As the decision was revealed, Edmonton’s Catholic community celebrated the new leader of its church.
“It is exciting news,” said Lori Lundeen, who was watching the live coverage with her Grade 6 class. “We weren't sure when this was going to come, or how long we'd have to wait, so it is exciting to hear they made a decision so quickly.”
The students at St. Vincent school were also excited to hear the news from Rome.
“Like everyone else in the class I was jumping up and screaming so yeah it was pretty loud,” admitted Fynn Hammond.
“Everyone was saying ‘the white smoke, white smoke’ and everyone was saying ‘the pope! The pope!’ And I was asking questions like ‘who is it? What's their name?’” shared Lauren Segatto.
Bergoglio then chose the name Francis. He is 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. Around the world, millions of other faithful looked on as well.
“This is a significant event we can see happening in our lives right now,” said Lundeen.
“I think it’s of greater interest now, taking place and we can see - especially with technology - live what's happening, so that creates a greater interest,” she added.
“I'm hoping that we get to learn about who the new Pope is, and what his plans are, what he's going to do and basically just who he is,” said Segatto.
The 76-year-old pope is a seasoned, popular pastor who will now serve as the 266th pontiff.
“He came to serve and not be served,” said Father Stefano Penna, the Dean of Theology at Newman Theological College.
Penna said the new pope began as a Jesuit priest and was then elected local superior. After that, he was made Archbishop of Buenos Aires, and finally called by Pope Jean Paul II to come to Rome and help the pope by working in a department that focused on clergy and congregation.
“I was completely and utterly bowled over,” said Penna of the selection.
“This demonstrates that all the Vaticanista – all the experts – were completely inattentive to what was happening inside the conversation of the parties. This is a surprise.”
“They’ve elected a man who’s a year younger than Pope Benedict was when he was elected,” added Penna, “that’s something to note.”
“They’ve voted, for the very first time, for a pope from outside of that whole half of the world... the new world has now got a place. The continent that is the home to most Catholics – South America – has now got a man in the seat of Peter.”
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."
© Global News. A division of Shaw Media Inc., 2013.