New Pope Francis I Elected: Catholics in Swampscott React
The white smoke appeared on Wednesday, signalling that the conclave had chosen Argentinian Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio to be the new head of the Catholic Church. Locals across the community responded.
Excitement rose on Humphrey Street mid-afternoon Wednesday with news of a new pope, and the first pontiff from the Americas.
Barber Joe Fazzolari stepped outside Rosa Bros. Barber Shop and shook hands with his neighbor — the Rev. Thomas Rafferty at St. John the Evangelist Church.
The hand shake was part greeting and part celebration as both the barber and priest were excited by Argentinian Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio becoming the new head of the Catholic Church.
The new pope's selection of the name Francis I, after the 12th century Italian Catholic St. Francis of Assisi, was significant, said Rev. Rafferty.
"I think it is a powerful message," he said.
St. Francis of Assisi represented a return to simplicity.
And the selection of the Argentinian cardinal gives an opportunity to draw attention to social justice issues and the great struggles — for food and clean water — that many people in the world face each day to survive, he said.
"I think a lot of us saw the inherent advantage of a Third World pope," the reverend said.
It speaks to the universality of the church.
"Our oneness in Christ," he said. "And it gives the message that we are not just a European, First-World church."
Church Deacon Andrew Acampora echoed this thought, saying it is important that the church look at issues of social justice.
"I am very excited and hopeful for the church and the future and hope he is able to fulfill with all he has been blessed to do," the deacon said.
Parish Secretary Irene Curran was clearly excited as Rev. Rafferty read aloud what he wanted this week's church bulletin to read.
The last bulletin described the church's efforts helping its sister church in Haiti.
This week's bulletin will have the headline: "Please Pray for Francis I Our New Holy Father."
In This article
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Rosa Brothers Barber Shop
202 Humphrey St, Swampscott, MA -
St John the Evangelist Church
174 Humphrey St, Swampscott, MA
brian condon
10:03 am on Thursday, March 14, 2013
The new Pope is a Jesuit! About time the Jesuits gained that recognition. They were silenced and forbidden to become socially involved by the last several popes...forced out of political action in South America and in the United States which boasted three Jesuit congressmen prior to the Vatican constraint. To include Father Robert Drynan of Boston College.
. I was not too thrilled with the performance of most of the previous 265 popes. They do make great reading however. Pius the ninth declared himself infallible....great footwork, and pius the 12 th coined the phrase, "some of my best friends are Jewish"....Only John 23rd was in touch with the real mission of the church.
Lets hope Francis the first. Moves forward with deference to women , and GLBT issues....it is not impossible. Good people can make good things happen
Lenny
10:41 am on Thursday, March 14, 2013
I am floored Brian....you make me feel woefully under educated. You were "not thrilled with most of the previous 265 Popes"! I wish I could debate you on that...but I just don't have it! The scary part for me is that I am pretty convinced your statement is intellectually honest....I have little doubt you know about such matters.
The one thing I "think" I do know is that although Pius 1X may have declared himself infallible, but I think I heard a Cardinal say some years ago that the Pope was always infallible in doctrinal decisions, but nobody ever bothered to proclaim it out loud until Pius. He also illustrated that infallability was only in doctrinal matters, by the citing the example of Pope John Paul II speaking English with a heavy accent as proof that he was not infallible in more earthly measures.
Still Brian, you are something!
brian condon
11:12 am on Thursday, March 14, 2013
Lenny
You remain my favorite commentator. Actually Pius the 9th was scrambling to carve out a niche for the papacy in light of the 1848 political upheaval that created the unified( sort of) nation of Italy. He lost the Papal States and was held hostage in Rome until a negotiated settlement created the city state we know as Vatican City. He summoned a conclave of sympathetic cardinals and officially painted himself and the church into an embarrassing infallibility corner with their resulting proclamation. Faith and morals is pretty broad stuff.....of course he subsequently excommunicated Victor Emmanuel the king of the new nation of Italy , and all of his supporters(mostly Italian Catholics)
Some what vindictive little cuss. He did lift the excommunication for The King on the kings deathbed....a compassionate person as well. So his ex cathedra performance was sadly more political than celestial...tough to try to reverse infallibility once you have seized it. My wife has it for sure. Well beyond faith and morals...
Francis is a Jesuit. They are priests with a mission. He sleeps in a small apartment in Buenos Aires , cooks his own meals, and takes the bus to work...We may be in for a lot of pleasant surprises. They were my mentors for six years. Stay tuned.
Lenny
11:44 am on Thursday, March 14, 2013
You are better than Wikipedia my friend. I promise to brush up on my Pius IX history this weekend. You sound like a double eagle, if not a triple.
Oh, and can you ask your wife what the winning Megabucks numbers will be this weekend, assuming her infallability is also temporal.