New Pope Francis I Elected: New Hampshire Catholics React

The white smoke has cleared, and Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Argentina will now be known as Pope Frances.

The cardinals elected their new pope this afternoon after a very fast conclave that began just Monday. This came soon after the shocking resignation of Pope Benedict XVI; the first papal resignation in 600 years.

He will now lead 1.2 billion Catholics as the 266th pope.

Locals reacted to the news of the new pope on Facebook.

 Melissa Ramsay: I am looking forward to a new light on Catholism .. A positive change to the Church and a Pope who can relate to to all!

Katy Keaveney Archambault: I wish they would have voted in someone a bite younger. It's such demanding role.

Sandy Garcia Quintero: I am so glad to have a Pope from Latin America!!

On Twitter, several of New Hampshire's legislators added their two cents on the new pope.

 Kelly Ayotte: Prayers and best wishes for @Pontifex, Pope Francis!

Sen. Jeanne Shaheen: Congratulations to @pontifex Pope Francis I and Catholics across the country.

At Our Lady of Mercy Parish, Christine, who works in the Parish Office, said she was at a Deanery meeting at St. Patrick Parish in Milford with OLM Fr. Paul Bouchard when the news came in the white smoke had been seen over the Sistine Chapel.

She said the meeting, which had just begun, was essentially over, as excitement swept through the group.

She said Fr. Don Keegan, invited everyone to his living room to watch the news as it was announced.

"He seems like a very lovely man," Christine said of Pope Francis I. "It was just so exciting. He asked the people assembled, and of course that was thousands and thousands of people, to pray for him. And then he said a blessing for them ... Some of us were near tears, it was just so beautiful."

The official Vatican Website offers the following biographical information on Bergoglio:

Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, S.J., Archbishop of Buenos Aires, Argentina, Ordinary for Eastern-rite faithful in Argentina who lack an Ordinary of their own rite, was born on 17 December 1936 in Buenos Aires. He was ordained for the Jesuits on 13 December 1969 during his theological studies at the Theological Faculty of San Miguel.

He was novice master in San Miguel, where he also taught theology. He was Provincial for Argentina (1973-1979) and rector of the Philosophical and Theological Faculty of San Miguel (1980-1986). After completing his doctoral dissertation in Germany, he served as a confessor and spiritual director in Córdoba.

On 20 May 1992 he was appointed titular Bishop of Auca and Auxiliary of Buenos Aires, receiving episcopal consecration on 27 June. On 3 June 1997 was appointed Coadjutor Archbishop of Buenos Aires and succeeded Cardinal Antonio Quarracino on 28 February 1998. He is also Ordinary for Eastern-rite faithful in Argentina who lack an Ordinary of their own rite.

Adjunct Relator General of the 10th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, October 2001.

He served as President of the Bishops' Conference of Argentina from 8 November 2005 until 8 November 2011.