After thirty days of intense prayer to our Holy Spirit, the curtains on the balcony parted. We saw our Pope step out, wearing a simple white cassock, and asked us to pray for him. He bowed deeply before the whole world. My heart exploded with joy and tears ran down my face. His name is Francis, humble servant of the poor and servant of the servants of God. He is our Pope! He lives among the poor. He washes their feet and his arms reach out to them at every turn.
He is a powerful gift from Jesus and our Blessed Mother to our Church. We will see him rebuild our Church and bring all of suffering humanity to new horizons of holiness where all people “love one another” just as Jesus loves us. All violence and death will be washed away by love, pure love itself.
– Joan Witry
We have a new Pope! The Catholic community of the world was startled by the speed with which a new Pope was chosen. Adding to the surprise was that the new Pope was a Jesuit. In addition, he was not from the continent of Europe, but from Argentina, a Latin American country. Many Catholics wondered-and were grateful-for this unexpected upheaval.
It is evident that, even as cardinal in Buenos Aires, he was a simple man, living his vow of poverty as a Jesuit. He had no limo, but traveled his archdiocese by public transportation, washing the feet of the inflicted with joy. He is carrying over this simplicity and humility as the Pope into his efforts to serve the poor. His challenge to us is to do likewise. We rejoice in his election, but are we willing to make the same efforts he is setting by example?
– Loretta Girzaitis
I liked his countenance the moment I saw him on the balcony. He seems to be down-to-earth using this gift to touch our hearts deeply. He obviously knows how to communicate and relate well with God’s common/ordinary people. Pope Francis’ demeanor reminds me of a quote from Abraham Lincoln: “God must have loved the common people because He made so many of them.” Our new Pope seems to love the “common” people, of which there are so many.
– Susie Meneely
As the doors opened, the center figure looked frail and ill. I should have known that his cap would be white. I was thrilled from then on. His manor and speech excelled and his humility showed through.
– Alan Brill
The name Bergoglio surprised me! I was certain the cardinals had elected an Italian Pope. Surprise! The Pope has been one surprise after another-all of them good!
Born to an Italian immigrant in Argentina, the Pope chose the name Francis (Assisi). He is the first Jesuit elected and the first from Latin America. Another pleasant surprise to me is Pope Francis’ simplicity of style and attention to his role as a pastor. He shows in his face, his demeanor and his words a great love for mankind-another Christ!
I guess the only thing I’m not surprised about is the working of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit blessed the Church and the world with a humble Pope-a Pope for our time in history. We must love him and pray for him. Thank God for sending us Pope Francis, the Vicar of Christ!
– Barbara Welp
From the simple way he greeted the immense crowd waiting to greet him after his election, with just a wave of his hand and a simple, gentle “Bona Serra,” and the way he then bowed his head and asked the people to pray for him, we saw that his choice of the name “Francis” was prophetic.
He is a simple and humble man who loves the poor and has asked us, the laity, to grow in that virtue with kindness and gentleness. I believe he is a great gift to our Church and the world. His love for Our Lady is the guarantee that she will be with him in every step of his pontificate.
– Don & Britta
I feel very at peace with our new Pope. This is our Year of Faith and we must have faith that God Himself, had a big hand in picking our new Pope. Pope Francis likes living with things simple. He likes the simple life. He doesn’t like a lot of attention or fussing. A few days after being elected Pope he called somebody and the person refused to talk to him because he thought it was a joke. It took all kinds of calls to get the person to realize it really was the Pope.
The first time the new Pope met Pope Emeritus Benedict, his first words were “we are brothers.” I believe that’s how he sees all of us-as brothers and sisters. They say he is full of love for his people.
“As prefect of the Congregation for Eastern Churches, he is familiar with the challenges facing Eastern Catholics and the pastoral concerns of the church in the Middle East.” He has worked in the Vatican for more than a dozen years and previously served as Nuncio to Venezuela and Mexico. It is a big world we are asking him to care for. No man can do this alone, but I am sure Pope Francis has a direct line to God Himself!
– Ginny Baier
Resident’s reflections on our Holy Father Francis