Announcement of the Election of the Holy Father

  • Posted on: 14 March 2013
NEW YORK – The Syro-Malankara Catholic Apostolic Exarchate in the United States of America joins the Church universal in rejoicing at the election of Jorge Mario Cardinal Bergoglio as the Bishop of Rome. We give thanks to God for the gift of Pope Francis, the 265th successor of Saint Peter, the Vicar of Christ on Earth.

The conclave that led to the election of Pope Francis began on Tuesday, March 12, 2013, in the Sistine Chapel of the Vatican Apostolic Palace. On Wednesday, March 13th, at 7:06pm, Rome time, there was white smoke, signaling the election of the Supreme Pontiff. Before imparting his first Apostolic Blessing, the “Urbi et Orbi”, the Holy Father addressed the gathered crowd with these words:

“And now let us begin this journey, bishop and people, this journey of the Church of Rome, which is the one that leads all the churches in charity. A journey of fraternity, of trust between us. Let us always pray for one another. Let us pray for the world so that this might be a great brotherhood. I hope that this journey of the Church that we begin today, and in which my Cardinal Vicar here present will assist me, will be fruitful for the evangelization of this beautiful city.”

The election of Cardinal Bergoglio marks a great milestone in our Church in that he is the first non-European pope of the modern era and first member of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) to be elected Bishop of Rome. Not only is the Holy Father a man of learning and great intellect, but also a man deeply aware of the challenges of contemporary life, open to the realities of the present age, and rooted in a deep love of Jesus Christ expressed through a humble simplicity. The Holy Father is also a pastor who is not unfamiliar with the struggles and mission of the Oriental Churches, having served as the Ordinary for Eastern-rite faithful in Argentina for a number of years.

The Syro-Malankara Catholic Exarchate joins the Church in praying for the Holy Father, Francis, Head of the Universal Church, that he may be strengthened as he embarks on his ministry of unity, love, and peace and that, together with the bishops of the world, he may build up the Body of Christ in peace and joy.

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The officially biography of the former Cardinal Bergoglio as published by the Holy See Press Office can be found here: http://www.news.va/en/news/biography-who-is-jorge-mario-bergoglio.

On Thursday, March 14, 2013, the newly-elected Pope Francis celebrated the “Missa pro Ecclesia” with the College of Cardinals in the Sistine Chapel. The full text of his first homily can be found here: http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-francis-1st-homily-full-text

Photo Credit: Pope Francis appears for the first time on the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican March 13. (CNS/Paul Haring)