New Pope Francis I Elected: Catholics in Bedford React

Catholics across the world are rejoicing today as the College of Cardinals elected the first Pope from the Americas by naming Argentine Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio the 266th Successor of Saint Peter.

The joy - and even some apathy - spread to New Hampshire and, specifically, Bedford.

Several locals responded to a callout on our Bedford Patch Facebook page.

Chrisann Dalton was clearly happy to hear the news, offering a brief and to the point "Yahoo!" But not everyone was as excited. Becky Kelly Guimont, for example, stated simply, "Doesn't really matter much to me."

We've reached out to Msgr. Quinn at St. Elizabeth Seton Church in Bedford and will update this story with his reaction if and when we hear from him.

For those looking to celebrate the occasion, Reverend Peter A. Libasci, Bishop of Manchester, is inviting all New Hampshire Catholics to join him in celebrating a special Mass for the Pope at 6 p.m. tonight, at the Cathedral of Saint Joseph at the intersection of Pine Street and Lowell Street in Manchester.

On Twitter, several of New Hampshire's legislators commented on the new Pope as well. Kelly Ayotte for instance, Tweeted: Prayers and best wishes for @Pontifex, Pope Francis!

Across the Twitter political aisle, Sen. Jeanne Shaheen offered: Congratulations to @pontifex Pope Francis I and Catholics across the country.

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 10^th 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.

Created and proclaimed Cardinal by the Bl. John Paul II in the consistory of 21 February 2001, of the  Title of S. Roberto Bellarmino (St. Robert Bellarmine).

Member of:

• Congregations: for Divine Worship and Discipline of the Sacraments; for the Clergy; for  Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life ;
• Pontifical Council for the Family;
• Pontifical Commission for Latin America.

Check back with Bedford Patch later today for more on the big announcment.