Tens of thousands of people who braved cold rain to watch the smokestack atop the Sistine Chapel in Vatican City jumped for joy when white smoke poured out, many shouting, "Habemus Papam!" or "We have a Pope!" (March 13, 2013)
Argentine Jorge Bergoglio has been elected pope, the first ever from the Americas and the first from outside Europe in more than a millennium. He chose the name Pope Francis.
For Catholics, the days leading to Easter are a time of renewal. In choosing the name of Francis as his first act, Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio of Argentina sends the world a powerful message that the new pope will be a man of action and compassion as he takes the reins of a troubled Roman Catholic Church.
Earlier this week, Bob Keeler wrote an op-ed about his wishes that the new pope choose the name Francis. Read that column here: http://bit.ly/WHZRCK
[View the story "Reactions to Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio's election as Francis I" on Storify ]Reactions to Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio's election as Francis I As white smoke blows from the Sistine Chapel, Catholics and church watchers around the world react to the election of the new pope. Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio of Argentina was selected by the conclave. Reactions varied among the Twittersphere.
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Storified by Newsday Opinion · Wed, Mar 13 2013 14:41:17
Some of the most recent tweets include...
Pope Francis reportedly said condoms "can be permissible" to fight spread of AIDS http://gu.com/p/3edqj/tw h/t @PiersMorganNicholas Kristof
Update: Twitter corrects to say 130,000 tweets per minute about new pope (not 130 million per minute) - http://bit.ly/Ya9oRaMatthew Keys
God bless Pope Francis -- a good, humble servant of God from the New World!Sarah Palin
New graphic: 39% of #Catholics worldwide live in Latin America; Argentina has 11th largest Catholic pop in world http://pic.twitter.com/1ZyGJZwjSdPew Forum
Crucial reminder RT @rachelbnolan: Cardinal Bergoglio will be the first Latin American pope. El Papa=the pope. La papa=potato.Ezra Klein
"Let us pray, always, for one another."-Francis 1, 1st South American Pope/tho AP reports he's the son of Italian immigrants.Ann Curry
New Pope's first question: "How much do you guys charge to move a couch from Argentina to Italy?"Julius Sharpe
Even the Catholic Church understands the importance of the Latino vote better than the GOP.Mike Still
Lots of tweets about the new pope from people I know don't care about religion. I think we are all hoping for some change.K
There was some confusion about whether Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio's new name, Pope Francis I, referred to Francis Xavier or Francis Assisi.
So it's Pope Francis but does he mean Assisi or Xavier?Peter Martin
@JamesMartinSJ is this after S Francis of Assisi and his love for the poor, or famous Jesuit St Francis Xavier?Nic Dion
St. Francis Xavier or St. Francis of Assisi? Has the Vatican confirmed either?Jaweed Kaleem
White smoke first rose from the Sistine Chapel shortly after 3 P.M. The greeting from Pope Francis I came shortly after, where he spoke before a crowd at the Vatican.
Raw: White Smoke Signals New Popeassociatedpress
PHOTO: Thousands celebrate in St. Peter's Square; awaiting announcement of new #pope http://twitpic.com/cb2lc9NBC Nightly News
BREAKING: 115 cardinals in the papal conclave have elected a new leader for the world's 1.2 billion Catholics.#pope http://pic.twitter.com/wC80XjwmbCNews12LI
Argentine Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio elected pope: http://bit.ly/YblmXLnewsday
HABEMUS PAPAM - Francis 1st is the new pope - François 1er est le nouveau pape (LIVE Revelation)videogamestivi
The new Pope signaled early that he would continue Benedict XVI's tweets from the @Pontifex handle.
HABEMUS PAPAM FRANCISCUMPontifex
So, the new Pope will be Tweeting. RT @Pontifex HABEMUS PAPAM FRANCISCUMTrina Morgan
They will follow MT @AndrewBloch: Crowd at St Peter's Square awaiting first tweet from #Pope http://twitpic.com/cb37jsGordon MacMillan
Politicians, public figures and Catholics seemed pleased.
Overjoyed for Catholics everywhere and hopeful that Pope Francis will help foster peace and spirituality across the globe. #HabemusPapemChuck Schumer
I'm told by a source in the gop /POTUS meeting that there was stirring on the room when news of white smoke got to themDana Bash
I send my warmest blessings to @Pontifex His Holiness Pope Francis I as he answers the call to the highest ministry of the Catholic Church.Rabbi Sacks
The first Jesuit pope fills me with joy. God is a God of surprises!James Martin, SJ
Obama on Pope Francis: "I look forward to working with His Holiness to advance peace, security, and dignity for our fellow human beings."Barack Obama
Yay for Pope Bergoglio!! He's adorable. ❤❤❤❤NiC0LE P0LiZZi
Pope Francis! Bringing a bit of South American flair to the papacy #fbNathan Tran
Mika Brzezinski says to #PopeFrancis, "Please show the world the kind face of the Catholic Church I love." MORE: http://on.msnbc.com/ZIPF9Bmsnbc
@andersoncooper New Pope & current.No matter if conservative or liberal,having a LatAm Pope is a change.He will reunite the Church.God blessLorena Matus
Habemus Papam! Welcome, Pope Francis! #papaLaura Cole
I wish Pope Francis I the best of luck as the new leader of the Catholic ChurchAdam Wozniak
Pope Francis! Argentinian Cardinal Bergoglio. It must be exciting to be a Latin American Catholic today.Arwen Mosher
❤Welcome Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, S.J., POPE FRANCIS, Argentinian, Man of the people, 500 million in parish❤ http://pic.twitter.com/m6fsiWKsgUMONICA
So Francis takes the bus to work, doesn't live in the Cardinal's Mansion, and cooks his own meals? #regularguy #loveit #newPopeCatholic Problems
I'm very happy there is a new pope god bless pope francis and all Catholics around the world.Dana Anderson
Some of the initial reactions, however, were hostile.
I love how there is nothing on tv but the announcement of the new Pope! #saidnooneeverAlexandra Creech
All you guys talking about the pope only for today tomorrow you guys are going to forget about him #HonestTweetT-Raww®
Have struggled to articulate thoughts on #newpope as 'cultural' Catholic; my mom said it best: "The Church does not intend to make changes."Jennifer Newell
RT @pegobry: Dear people on Twitter who are shocked to learn the new Pope opposes gay marriage: please tell me about your planet.daveweigel
New #Pope pointless without a change in #Vatican policies to end #sexism & #homophobia. @Pontifex #Pontifex #Catholic #Bergoglio #FrancisPeter Tatchell
SHOCKING! An anti-homosexual, anti-abortion and anti-contraception white male was elected the new Pope!Chris
The new pipe should've kept Jorge #francisGood Guy Greg
The new pope just looked so unhappy walking out. I pray to God he brings us some good. #popeMAC
Pope Francis I? What?! We? I can feel the Rapture :((Sophia Perez
Do the pope's hipster glasses have a twitter account yet?jarais
Very quickly, the hashtags and memes began to trend, including #ReplaceMovieTitlesWithPope
#ReplaceMovieTitlesWithPope Mean Popes...."ummm you can't pray with us." "On Sundays we wear white!"http://pic.twitter.com/4nkY2SHVcqSeb M
Honey I shrunk the pope #ReplaceMovieNamesWithPopeJoshua Alexandre
Harry Pope and the prisoner of Vatican #replacemovienameswithpopeJola
And the next pope is: #GRUMPYCAT! http://pic.twitter.com/KBlMfIOXvmMark Albert
#ReplaceMovieNamesWithPope The Pope Wears PradaAnna Kate Rose
#ReplaceMovieTitlesWithPope Charlie and The Chocolate Pope. :PRonan Bennett
We have white smoke! A new pope is about to be selected!!! #mlbmemes http://pic.twitter.com/jmFMcOyJXZMLB Memes
popes of the caribbean: on argentinean tides. #ReplaceMovieTitlesWithPopeIlana Shire
#ReplaceMovieTitlesWithPope Jurassic Pope.Levi Bochantin
#ReplaceMovieTitlesWithPope The Pope Games. http://pic.twitter.com/UcYsIRxgRiGlen Coco
Pope Fiction #ReplaceMovieTitlesWithPopeEileen
Pope Chainz The 2nd http://twitpic.com/cb2xncFUNNY PICS
Opinion
Choosing the next pope: Analysis and opinion from around the world
