Bishop Martin Amos joyfully announced March 13 that Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Argentina has been chosen to lead the world’s 1.2 billion Catholics as pope. In taking the name “Francis,” the new pope is making a connection with the saint whose name connotes peace, a sense of unity, simplicity and humility, the bishop said.
He was touched by the humility Pope Francis demonstrated as he greeted well-wishers from the balcony overlooking St. Peter’s Square — which included asking for their blessing before he bestowed one on them. “It shows he’s certainly one of us, recognizing our fragility, our human weaknesses and the fact that each of us is in need of prayer. And with the enormity of his duties, we should pray for him,” Bishop Amos said.
He thinks selection of a new pope from the Americas — a precedent — demonstrates acknowledgement that the Catholic Church is universal and awareness that the majority of Catholics are not European.
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