Kinston Catholics woke up Wednesday without a leader of their church.
But shortly after 2 p.m., the Vatican announced the election of Argentine Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio as Pope Francis I.
“He is well-known in Latin America for being a very humble person, and a bishop who will look out, very much, for the poor,” said Father Bill John Acosta Escobar, of the Holy Spirit Catholic Church. “He’s a nice combination of being very smart and also very generous with his time and with his knowledge.”
Escobar said that as a Colombian, he’s happy with the selection of someone from Latin America to lead the church. It’s the first time there’s been a pope who’s not European in more than 1,000 years. Bergoglio is also the first Jesuit to hold the post.
“The Jesuit order has some really wonderful priests in it,” Parishioner Brenda Ipock said. “Personally, I had hoped that it would be the cardinal from Boston (Sean O’Malley). But it wasn’t, and you go with what you have. I hope he’ll be really good for the church.”
Bergoglio’s selection of the name Francis has people talking, as well. He’s known for being an advocate for the poor in Argentina, and was a national leader during a budget crisis several years ago. Bergoglio also chose to do without the perks of his office in Buenos Aires, like the archbishop’s palace and a chauffeured limousine. He instead lived in a spare apartment and used public transportation.
“It’s very interesting, actually,” Escobar said. “We’re very, very happy he chose that name, because that’s the way he’s going to work in his pontificate.”
Parishioner Colleen Kosinski said Bergoglio’s choice reflects on his character.
“It seems, at least from what I’m seeing so far, is that he’s a real humble person and someone that people will be able to relate to,” Kosinski said. “And he’s taken the name of Francis, which of course is one of the saints of the church as well, who was also a real humble kind of person, as well. That seems to speak for, at least, his personality.”
In his profile for the National Catholic Reporter, John L. Allen Jr. wrote Bergoglio is known to stick to traditional practices, staying away from more progressive tendencies in the Jesuit order. He’s also conservative on social issues, standing in opposition to abortion, gay marriage and contraception.
At 76, the Bergoglio is two years younger than Joseph Ratzinger when he became Pope Benedict XVI in 2005. He’s also widely cited as the runner-up to the papacy that year.
Wes Wolfe can be reached at 252-559-1075 or wes.wolfe@kinston.com. Follow him on Twitter @WolfeReports.
Breakout Box
Pope Francis I
Name: Jorge Mario Bergoglio
Nationality: Argentine
Born: 1936 in Buenos Aires
Entered priesthood: 1958
Source: National Catholic Reporter
