Lacey Reacts: Argentina’s Cardinal Bergoglio Elected Pope

Argentine Jorge Bergoglio has been elected pope and residents of Lacey have taken to Facebook to show their support and disapproval.

White rose from the smokestack of the Sistine Chapel in Vatican City on Wednesday afternoon, signaling that the cardinals reached an agreement and selected a new pope. The new leader for the Roman Catholic Church was chosen in five rounds of voting, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Argentine Jore Bergoglio is the first ever from the Americas and the first from outside Europe in more than a millennium. He chose the name Pope Francis.

Rev. Richard Basznianin of the Church of St. Pius the Tenth in Forked River was not immediately available for comment.

Here’s what Lacey Patch readers are saying on Facebook:

Kara Bednarski Viscito: Really, Pope Francis, maybe smile. I hate when people vote for their nationality or race and not based on principals...Really not happy with the pope wish the people choose 

Brian Patrick Dowd: May our Catholic friends and family celebrate their new Pope. Argentina's Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Argentina is the first #pope from Latin America! He chose the name Francis I.

Judi Vick Szperlak: Congratulations and Good Luck POPE Francis!! Praying for you!!

Kathleen Patricia: ...and the man from Argentina blows my March Madness Papal brackets.....

Elena Scevola Matthews: Very proud!!!!!!!!!

Ellen Shelby: Wish it had been Dolan, but Pope Francis is going to make an excellent Pope!! God Bless him!!! ...He is the head of my church. I believe he will a champion of Peace in the world and I further believe this is a blessing upon our church.

Paul Warren: Getting a new pope to me isnt newsworthy. He's not doing anything for me.

Heather Iannaccio Deman: Is it a requirement that the pope be over 75?! I think they should elect someone younger and than maybe we wouldn't have to do this so often.

Marty Czerepuszko: A 76 year old pope...well...don't monogram everything.... this might be a short one. Lol

Charles Cron: one would have hoped for a new pope a lot younger, one with the energy and years left to truly make a difference.

What do you think? Tell us in the comments.