New Pope Francis I Elected: St. Matthew Parish Reacts

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, Windham 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.

Deacon Bernie MacDonald of St. Matthew Parish was enthusiastic about the decision.

He spoke to Bergoglio's introduction on the central balcony of St Peter's Basilica.

"This man, Pope Francis now, showed (the people in Saint Peter's Square) how to reform when he came out on the balcony," said MacDonald. "He just stood there in silence, and after he spoke to them and thanked them, he asked them to pray for him and he bent over, he bent over, and everybody stopped, and everything was quiet, while people prayed over him. Then he gave them his blessing."

MacDonald, who came to Windham from Canada less than three years ago, said he didn't expect that an American pope would be chosen.

He also delighted in the new pope's decision to choose the name "Franscisco."

"Actually, I am what you call a secular Franciscan or Third Order Franciscan myself," said MacDonald. "I often wondered if they'd ever have a Francis. I didn't think so."

For MacDonald, he said the name signifies "great humility" and "love of poverty," not just the poverty of not having things but the poverty of the spirit.

He said that Bergoglio is an example of somebody who was sought after on the outside of the old guard; a person who could reform the Catholic Church.

"It's more of an internal reform, which extrapolates or goes on to become an exterior reform," said MacDonald.

As for Bergoglio's age, MacDonald isn't worried, saying that even at age 76, the other cardinals must have been aware of his health condition.

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.