EG Catholics React With Surprise, Satisfaction Over Choice Of Pope Francis

At age 76, he's older than they thought, but he's devoted to the poor, which they like. In a survey of a few East Greenwich Catholics Wednesday over the choice of Argentine Jorge Mario Bergoglio as the new Pope – Francis I – reaction was generally positive. 

"We’re all very pleased," said Jeanne Photopoulos, a parishioner of Our Lady of Mercy Church who had arrived at the church Wednesday evening for a Lenten program. "I think he’s a very humble man, a prayerful man. He’s for the poor, for the common man. He’s an intelligent man. That balances him," she said.

"The fact that he’s a man of the people, he lives in a small apartment, I think he’s going to be someone to reach out to the real mission of the church: compassion and to reach out to the least of the brethren," said Bill Daly. "We have to change. I think he’s going to be a reformist."

Local author and OLM parishioner Genevieve Kineke offered these words: "Being initially surprised like most onlookers, I warmed to Francis immediately when he asked for the blessing of the crowd! I knew this man took seriously his task as the 'servant of the servants of God.'"

Sister Mary Clement Turcotte, a Franciscan Sister Minor, said she was grateful coverage focused on the fact that choosing of a new pope is something beyond human calculation.

"The conclave is not a human event but really is the work of the Holy Spirit with human cooperation. That is so so important today in secular society," she said. "I will look to him for the truth about what to believe and how to live a morally good life according to the natural moral law." 

She also said she was excited that Pope Francis was from Latin America.

"From what I understand, this is a man of humility and simplicity – and it's my hope that the church can rebuild and repair under him," said Martha Reynolds on EG Patch's Facebook page.

For Sue Cienki, she and her husband applauded the choice of Francis, who is the first Jesuit pope ever and was trained as a chemist. 

"We’re very happy in our house because my husband’s a big Jesuit fan and I’m a chemist," she said.

"It’s a dawn of a new age," said OLM Pastor Bernard Healey. "It means a totally new perspective to the church universal from a large part of the church – Latin America – where a half the Catholics of the world live."

Noting the new pope's humble living habits – he eschewed luxury quarters as cardinal in Argentina, living in an apartment instead – as well as his reknown as a scholar, Healey said, "He's probably what we need in this age: prayer, simplicity, intelligence."