New Pope Francis I Elected: Salem Residents 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, Salem and the greater Manchester area where 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.

The Rev. John Michalowski of Mary Queen of Peace Church said he was surprised to hear that a Jesuit had been chosen, the first in the history of the papacy.

He said that the new pope will be able to take care of some of the problems in the Catholic Church.

"Not just in relationship to abuse but in the Curia, the Vatican bureaucracy, certainly there is things that need to be tightened up there," said Michalowski. "His administrative experience as an archbishop, that is probably something that he will be able to deal with."

Michalowski praised the introduction on the balcony, where Bergoglio, now Pope Francisco, asked the people to pray for him before he did anything else.

As for the successor of former Pope Benedict XVI not being an American, Michalowski said he wasn't disappointed, and didn't expect an American would be chosen.

He also doesn't harbor any ill will over the former pope's exit, saying that it "makes perfect sense" that people should be able to retire at some point."

"I think it speaks well of Benedict XVI that he recognized and prayed and once his doctor said 'you can't fly anymore' he realized he couldn't do what the modern pope needs to do," said Michalowski.

Several Salem residents commented on the announcement on the Salem, NH Patch Facebook page.

Lauree Burnette Leyland commented that she is "praying for his Holiness Pope Francis," while Jennifer Hart Griffin said that she hopes the new pope leads his followers well.

Corey Elizabeth Ahlman simply offered a welcome to Pope Francis.

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 Windham Patch later today for more on the big announcment, and be sure to comment below with your reaction.