The New Pope is Cardinal Bergoglio of Argentina

In response to White Smoke Rises From Sistine Chapel: A New Pope Has Been Chosen:

The LA Times reports:

  Jorge Mario Bergoglio was named the 266th pope Wednesday, succeeding Benedict XVI
as leader of the world’s 1.2 billion Roman Catholics and inheriting a
global church that is growing in some parts of the world but faces
serious challenges at home and abroad.

Bergoglio, 76, of
Argentina,  was elected by his fellow cardinals in their fifth round of
voting, securing a two-thirds majority just 24 hours after their conclave began in the magnificent precincts of the Sistine Chapel. He took the papal name Francis I.

The
speed of the selection — only a few hours longer than it took the last
conclave to choose Benedict in 2005 — showed that the cardinals
quickly coalesced behind a candidate despite reports of increasing
divisions among the cardinals making the choice.

 

Cardinal Bergoglio is known for his personal personal humility and  doctrinal
conservatism 

He lives in a small
apartment, rather than in the palatial bishop’s residence. He gave up
his chauffeured limousine in favor of public transportation, and he
reportedly cooks his own meals.

 In one extraordinary moment, Bergoglio, (Pope Francis I) bowed to the crowd and asked for their silent prayers. He also led a prayer for the departing pope, Benedict XVI.

“Let us
pray all of us together … so that he’s blessed by the lord and guarded.”

 Fox’s Shep Smith was hoping for a “reformer”, but according to CNN, Pope Francis is considered “a straight-shooter who calls
things as he sees them, and a follower of the church’s most conservative
wing”

He has clashed with the government of President Cristina Fernandez de
Kirchner over his opposition to gay marriage and free distribution of
contraceptives.

I’m very pleased with this new Pope.