Utah Catholics react to election

The Catholic community in Utah was very happy, surprised, pleased and emotional about the news of a Jesuit Argentinian cardinal being elected as the new head of the Roman Catholic Church.

At 7:07 p.m. local time in Rome white smoke issued from the Sistine Chapel chimney, indicating that a pope had been elected, and thousands of people started cheering all over the world.

Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio of the Archdiocese of Buenos Aires selected the name of Francis for his papal mission. He is the 266th pope and Benedict XVI’s successor.

Jesuit Father Paul McCarthy, parochial vicar of Saint Thomas More Parish in Sandy, said that he was at the same time surprised and pleased about the news of a Jesuit brother being chosen as the pope.

"My first impressions of Pope Francis are that he is very down-to-earth, kind, cheerful and unpretentious, a prayerful man with a simple lifestyle. He brings to his ministry a fine-tuned sensitivity and concern for the poor," said Fr. McCarthy, adding that he feels that the new Holy Father will be a model pastor as he leads the Church during the coming years. "We pray that God will give him wisdom and courage as he begins this demanding time of service, and we look forward to his leadership, guidance and blessing in the years ahead."

Jesuit Father Richard Hunt, administrator of Saint Florence Mission in Huntsville, said that Pope Francis has made it clear throughout his life his preferential treatment of the poor, and may emphasize social justice in his ministry.

"Before and after his election it is characteristically genuine in essence. I am delighted to see that he would be living it out and acting it out in a very realistic way," said Fr. Hunt, adding that Pope Francis’ humility reminds him of Pope John XXIII. "He has a way of pastoral reaching people that seems very warm. He seems to know how to work with people. He is very humble."

Yolanda Melani, a non-practicing Catholic Argentinian who has lived in Utah for 20 years, was very happy with the news. "I do not know what others might think, but I saw it with a lot of joy," she said. "I think he is going to be a great pope…. It doesn’t really matter where he is from."

On the other hand, for Estela Stakun, a parishioner of Our Lady of Lourdes in Magna, this was totally unexpected, because she never in her wildest dreams thought that an Argentinian could be elected as the pope, she said. "It was a big surprise! I never thought I would be alive to witness this. Just the fact that he speaks Spanish and represents Latin America – that is really touching."

Vanina Caten, a Cathedral of the Madeleine parishioner, had the opportunity to meet then-Cardinal Bergoglio in a Buenos Aires clinic when her mother has a surgery some years ago. "I met him and he gave us his blessing, and now knowing he is Christ’s Vicar really makes me very, very happy and grateful," she said.