New Pope Francis Elected, Local Monsignor Reacts

Now that the College of Cardinals has chosen a new Pope for the 1.2 billion Catholics around the world, one local monsignor has some advice for the new Pontiff: Assess the modern world, but still carry out the message of Jesus Christ.

Monsignor Robert Slipe, the pastor of St. Catherine of Siena Parish in Cedar Grove said the new Pope should be “looking at conditions of the Modern Age and assess to see the timeless message of Jesus Christ become effective in this time.”

The new Pontiff, Archbishop Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Buenos Aires – the first Jesuit and the first cardinal from the Americas to be Pope – was named to the position Wednesday afternoon after an early evening vote by the College of Cardinals at the Vatican.

According to a release from the Vatican, Bergoglio was born in Argentina in 1936. The Italian immigrant is known as a humble man who previously headed the Church’s Jesuit order, NYTimes.com reported. He chose the name Francis after St. Francis of Assisi, the report said.

Monsignor Slipe said Catholics want to see a Pope who people feel “has his heart in the right place.”

Slipe said the media “wanted a Pope who had his head in the right place” and said he was hoping the selection would be someone who “served with compassion and was in love with the Lord.”

Slipe said he didn’t know much about Pope Francis, saying “I don’t know his personal biography, but I prayed the Holy Spirit would inspire the cardinals choosing the new Pope.”

Slipe said the church does not currently have plans for any special Masses for the new Pope.

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