Yorktown, Somers Catholics Excited Over New Pope

The announcement of Buenos Aires Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio as the new Pope, who emerged from the main balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica on Wednesday, is resonating with Catholics in the Yorktown area. 

Father Tom Kreiser of St. Patrick's Church in Yorktown watched the white smoke rise from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel, the traditional signal that the selection has been made. He said he was shocked that the election came so fast and was excited for the new pope. 

Jesuit Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, 76, from Buenos Aires is the new pope. He has taken the name Francis I and addressed the crowd below from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica.

"He looks like he is going to be a great Pope," Kreiser said. "He was so humble. It was so beautiful to ask the people to pray for him."

The choice of name had significance for Kreiser who said he believes the new Pope Francis I will listen to what people have to say and help those who have been hurt. 

"The election of the pope means a new beginning," Kreiser said. "It means the church is still viable, relevant, especially with all this coverage; hurt by scandal and some of the people, but it still has a voice to Catholics around the world."

Kreiser said he believes the pope will be "the pope of the people" and a man of peace. He expects parishioners at St. Patrick's Church to be excited over the his election. 

Monsignor Thomas P. Sandi of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church in Shrub Oak was also excited about the election of the new Pope. He spoke of his humility and believed the new pope would focus on the poor people and those who might not have a voice. 

"I was happy," said Sandi, who met Pope John Paul II while he was on a bishop's ordination in 1992 as a member of the U.S. Air Force and was stationed in Italy.

Patrice Athanasidy, a member of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church since 1993, also spoke about the new pope's humility as he addressed Catholics around the world. 

"I liked the way he began being a pope," she said. "He was so humble."

Darcy Flanders of Yorktown said she was hoping for the papal candidate from Ghana and that she didn't know enough about the elected pope to comment.

"I just really hope that he can clean up all the scandal surrounding the Catholic church and restore faith that those who commit such sins, if that happens again, are immediately forced out of the church," Flanders said.

Joan Fleischer, a Somers resident who has belonged to St. Mary of the Assumption Church in Katonah for years, was one of many folks praying for the new pope at mass Thursday morning. She's happy with the results of the conclave, because Pope Francis I seems like an open person. 

"He's elderly again, but I think things are going in the right direction," she said, adding that she's pleased with his name choice, because it shows his concern for the poor.

Bergoglio, the son of an Italian railway worker, becomes the first Jesuit and first Latin American pontiff. He was born Dec. 17, 1936 in Buenos Aires and 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 May 20, 1992, he was appointed titular Bishop of Auca and Auxiliary of Buenos Aires, receiving episcopal consecration on June 27. On June 3, 1997, he was appointed Coadjutor Archbishop of Buenos Aires and succeeded Cardinal Antonio Quarracino on Feb. 28, 1998. 

He is also Ordinary for Eastern-rite faithful in Argentina who lack an Ordinary of their own rite. Adjunct Relator General of the 10th 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.

Pope Benedict XVI announced his resignation last month.

What do you hope the new Pope will address? Please share your thoughts in the comments.

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