Charlie Devlin, a deacon at Chappaqua's Church of St. John and St. Mary is pleased with the selection of Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio as Pope Francis.
Devlin feels that the name, which was been reported to be after St. Francis of Assisi was an inspiration. He also felt that the name choice was significant for the direction of the church, noting that St. Francis' job "was to rebuild a church that was falling down."
Bergoglio - according to his biography, he is from Argentina and was the Archbishop of Buenos Aires - is unique because he is a non-European pope. He was also ordained by the Jesuit order, on Dec. 13, 1969, while studying at the Theological Faculty of San Miguel, his biography notes.
Devlin, who said that he had a Jesuit education in high school and college, felt that the pope's connection with the order is "very special."
"He's a good man," said Rev. Msgr. Thomas Gilleece, who is pastor at the Chappaqua church, adding that he has a "good reputation."
Father John McLaughlin of Briarcliff Manor's Parish of St. Theresa - it also oversees a small church in Millwood as a mission church - said he was "delighted." He added that he was "very, very moved," by the new pope's speaking to the public after his selection.
"It's very exciting," said Chappaqua's Jenni Narcissi, adding that the new pope "seems very humble. Narcissi also liked the fact that he has a Jesuit background.
"I think it's great," said Briarcliff Manor resident John Lombardi.
The new pontiff succeeds Pope Benedict XVI, who stepped down recently and broke modern precedent by doing because he ended his tenure while still living. He is the 265th pontiff, according to the Vatican's website.
Prior to being chosen as Pope Francis, Bergoglio, 76, became a cardinal in 2001, according to his biography. From 2005 to 2011, he also served as president for the Bishops' Conference of Argentina. He became an archbishop in the late 1990s. Prior to that, in 1992 he became Bishop of Auca and Auxiliary of Buenos Aires. Bergoglio also served as a novice master at San Miguel and also taught at the institution. From 1973 to 1979 he also served as a provincial in Argentina, and did his doctoral dissertation in Germany.
