Rivertowns Reacts to New Pope Francis [VIDEO]

Everyone is talking about the Catholic Church’s new pope, 76-year-old Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergolio of Buenos Aires, and those in the Rivertowns are no exception.

Father Roy Chettaniyil, administrator at Immaculate Conception Church in Irvington, said that the conclave chose the best man for the job.

“The Catholic Church is really very active in Latin America and I believe he's the right man because he’s chosen by God,” said Chettaniyil. “I think the new pope has a lot of things on his plate that have to be addressed in the faith with the changing scenario and stuff like that. I personally believe that the pope should be able to address the problems that society faces today. That is very important.”

Vatican Deputy Spokesman Thomas Rosica told CNN.com that Bergoglio has “a special place in his heart and his ministry for the poor, for the disenfranchised, for those living on the fringes and facing injustice."

Kathy Stahlman Zinn said on Rivertowns Patch’s Facebook page that she hopes the pope will imitate his namesake. Father Matthew Fernan of St. Matthew Roman Catholic Church in Hastings-on-Hudson said that St. Francis of Assisi was asked by God to build a strong church of people and suffered the same stigmata wounds as Jesus Christ.

“Maybe that’s a very good symbol of what Pope Francis is hoping to bring to the people,” said Fernan. “The reality of the resurrection and where we may be suffering. Hopefully we’ll be able to bring hope and peace to those people in need.”

Co-owners of Calcutta Wrap & Roll in Ardsley, Sumita Bhattacharya and Maria Cocucci, were also discusing the future of papacy and whether that may one day include a woman. Click on our Patch Clip to hear what they said. 

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