Local reaction to the election of Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio, who took the name of Pope Francis on Wednesday, included prayers, good wishes and curiosity about the new shepherd of the Roman Catholic Church.
Shortly after 2 p.m., white smoke poured from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel, signaling that the cardinals had elected a pope on the fifth ballot since the conclave began Tuesday. Another sign of a papal election was the ringing of the bells in Rome, which also occurred in Mahanoy City at Blessed Teresa of Calcutta Roman Catholic Church.
The Rev. Kevin Gallagher, pastor, didn't waste any time after he saw the white smoke on television. He went to the church and got the bells pealing the good news that a pope was selected. He said once the news was out, the rectory had visitors from the Missionaries of Charity convent.
"All the nuns came running over as soon as they hear the bells ringing," Gallagher said. "They all piled in here and we sat around waiting almost an hour and speculating who would it be."
Gallagher believes it was a good decision by the cardinals.
"He seems to be a well-chosen pope for today," he said. "God bless him. I wish him all the best. He's got a huge undertaking that he has to take care of, but he looks like he has the stamina to get around the world. He seems like he's a very humble man. That says a lot about him already."
Gallagher was also pleased that Pope Francis is from South America.
"I hope they continue the selecting of popes from around the world," he said. "It shows the universality of the Church."
The Rev. John O. Barres, bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Allentown, appreciated Pope Francis asking for a moment of silence from the crowd.
"I was impressed with the moment of silence. When you can hear a pin drop in St. Peter's Square with that volume of people is not easy," Barres said. "He was sending a beautiful sign at the very moment of the beginning of his pontificate of the power of silence in our lives - the power of silent prayer, opening ourselves to the presence of the Holy Spirit and the Word of God. When we deeply in silence, then our actions are beautiful and express the will of the Holy Spirit in our lives. He was sending a message in a beautiful way to our social networking world. Our global communications are very important but at the same time, this fundamental silence, the fundamental spirit of prayer in daily life, is so key."
Barres was also moved that Pope Francis is from Argentina.
"This is a beautiful sign of our global church," he said. "This is man who hits a lot of different chords. He is intelligent and well-trained Jesuit, a son of St. Ignatius and fully schooled in Ignatian contemplation, a fine theologian trained in Germany, while at the same time a man with a humble and beautiful light touch. But don't mistake that humble light touch for a lack of fire. This man is on fire with the Holy Spirit."
Metropolitan-Archbishop Stefan Soroka of the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia offered his prayers and best wishes to the new pontiff, and also noted his connection with Eastern Rite Catholics.
"We are especially pleased to learn of the Holy Father's personal knowledge and experience with Eastern Catholics while ministering as cardinal archbishop in Argentina," Soroka said. "As members of the largest Eastern Catholic Church in union with Rome, we look forward to Pope Francis' continued close relationship with Eastern Catholics throughout the world, and particularly in the United States of America and in our native Ukraine. The vision of the Catholic Church breathing with two lungs, both East and West, advocated by Blessed Pope John Paul II, will undoubtedly be fostered by the Holy Father."
The Rev. Mark Fesniak, pastor of St. Nicholas and Nativity BVM Ukrainian Catholic churches in Minersville and Middleport, respectively, was glued to the television to learn about the new pope.
"This is very, very exciting," Fesniak said. "I don't know too much about this man but I think it's wonderful that he picked the name Francis. I'm surprised that no one has ever picked Francis but I think that says something to the world just in the name that he picked."
As to how quick a decision was made by the cardinals, he said, "I thought it would take a little bit longer. I'm surprised it was so quick."
U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pa., said the new pope will face challenges as the shepherd of Catholics worldwide.
"The Catholic Church is the largest charitable, health care and educational institution in the world, and the spiritual home to 1.2 billion Catholics around the globe," Toomey said. "The new Holy Father Francis I has an immense task ahead of him and I pray that God will uphold him with strength, wisdom and courage to take on the challenges and beauty of his new role."
At Blessed Teresa of Calcutta Church, the last night of the parish's Lenten mission was held Wednesday with prayers offered for the new pope, which were different from the previous three evenings when prayers went to the cardinals to chose a successor.
Attending the mission were sisters from the Missionaries of Charity, the religious order founded by Blessed Mother Teresa. Sister Ann Therese M.C. welcomed the new pope.
"This is really marvelous," she said. "He (Pope Francis) has so much in common with Mother. He's Ignatian and Mother was very Ignatian. There is his simplicity and his poverty and his humility."
The guest homilist was Monsignor Edward O'Connor, pastor of St. Patrick Roman Catholic Church, Pottsville.