Sleepy Hollow Reacts to New Pope from Latin American

The College of Cardinals at the Vatican in Rome has chosen a new pope. White smoke rose from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel, the traditional signal that the selection has been made.

A Jesuit cardinal, 76, from Buenos Aires is the new pope.

Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, the son of an Italian railway worker, becomes the first Jesuit and first Latin American pontiff, according to news reports.

He has taken the name Francis I.

There's a sizable Spanish-speaking community in Sleepy Hollow, many of whom were talking this afternoon about the big news. 

In Ambar Restaurant, employee Rosa Lopez was watching the television in the corner with several of her patrons at the counter. "I'm excited for the Latin community," she said. 

A crowd of teens on Cortlandt Street, who happened to be gathered near the tree many believe holds the image of the Virgin of Guadalupe in its knot, hadn't yet heard the news. "I didn't know," said Prince Gonzalez, "that's good to hear."

Shortly after the new pope addressed the crowd below from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, Sister Mary Anne Maceda, Director of Religious Education at the St. Teresa School received the news. 

"I'm delighted. Very happy," she said on her way into the Beekman Avenue school building. "You listen to the media and hear all these names, but I feel the Holy Spirit really does play a part. The community here is thrilled."

She said she also appreciated, as a Franciscan, that the Pope would be taking the name Francis. As far as any changes to come, "it's hard to say, I really don't know," Maceda said. "And everyone has a different idea of what changes they want."

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Born Dec. 17, 1936 in Buenos Aires, Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio was ordained for the Jesuits on Dec. 13, 1969 during his theological studies at the Theological Faculty of San Miguel, according to the Vatican’s website.

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.

What are you hopes for the church under a new pope? What challenges will this new pope face? Speak out and let us know what you think.

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