Brookline's Father Clary Excited for 'First American Pope'

After a brief conclave, cardinals at the Vatican announced on Wednesday that Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Argentina was elected the 266^th pope and would call himself Francis I.

Father Brian Clary of Saint Mary’s of the Assumption’s in Brookline was thrilled to see the cardinals elect “the First American Pope.”

“I may have read his name in the list of candidates but, I had never heard of him before,” Clary said. “But from what I heard about him on the radio, that as archbishop, he was one with the poor. He lived by very simple means. He took the bus everywhere. He asked for the crowd’s blessing first.”

Saint Mary’s of the Assumption rang their bells for about 10 minutes when they learned of the white smoke appeared from the Vatican.

Clary was at the Pastoral Center at the Archdiocese in Braintree when the news of the white smoke broke.

Clary said that a nervous and prayerful excitement kicked up amongst the local bishops.

“It was exciting to look around at the bishops in the local hierarchy. Everyone’s jobs might have changed a bit if Sean O’Malley had been elected,” Clary said, describing the hour it took to reveal the new pope. “A few people in jest said it was like the Red Sox play the Yankees. Except we all win here.”

Clary said that he thought Bergoglio may have chosen the name Francis I because of Francis Xavier, the first Jesuit.

“This is a great day for the church,” Clary said. “With my life as a priest, there are things you cannot be prepared for. It was a beautiful day.”