New Pope Francis: Saucon Valley Reacts
The new Pope is Argentine Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, 76, who has chosen the name Francis.
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Editor's Note: This article has been updated.
After deliberation, the Roman Catholic Conclave in the Vatican City has elected Argentine Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, 76, to be the new Pope. He has chosen the name Pope Francis.
Shortly after the news, Saucon Valley readers reacted on Hellertown Patch's Facebook page:
"Pope Francis appears to be a humble man," wrote Mary Anne Looby. "Asking for the blessing and prayers of the people of Rome before offering his blessing upon them was beautiful to see. I think most of us Catholics want to see a church that is more modern. We love our traditions, as any faith would, but times have changed and the church has to become more understanding."
Wrote Joie Gates: "It's about time the Boys Club in Rome elected a non-European as Pope."
And Allan Bach said: "The Catholic Church is built on Tradition and Scripture. A more modern Church is not what is needed—rather a return to the values that are the foundation of the faith. Responsible leadership is necessary. Let us move toward a more Christ-like Church."
Bergoglio is the first Jesuit—and the first person from Latin America—to be named pope.
He has spent nearly his entire career in Argentina, and according to published reports he has lived modestly, taking the bus to work, cooking his own meals and opting to live in an apartment.
ABC News Online reported that he is considered a champion of social justice in his country. He also is a conservative, strongly opposing abortion, same-sex marriage and contraception, ABC News reported.
Bergoglio stepped out onto the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome at 3:22pm Wednesday (8:22pm in Rome) to cheering crowds. Just a little over an hour earlier, white smoke had arisen from atop the Sistine Chapel, indicating that the Roman Catholic cardinals had elected a new pope.
Bergoglio succeeds Pope Benedict XVI, who resigned Feb. 28 and was the first pope to do so in 600 years. He cited advanced age.
Mary Anne Looby
5:16 pm on Thursday, March 14, 2013
I find it frustrating and contradictory for our new Pope the be strongly opposed to contraception, yet also a champion of unwed mothers. If contraception were approved by the Vatican, we might see fewer out of wedlock pregnancies. I have also wondered my whole adult life about the stand on abortion. I believe in life, I don't believe in abortion as a method of birth control. My problem has always been this....If life begins at conception, as the Church states, then why, as Catholics, do we not treat misscariage as a loss of life? There is no funeral Mass, no priest present to perfom an emergency Batisim and to give Last Rites and no burial. This has always been a big question mark for me, and I wish somone could explain it.
Allan Bach
8:41 am on Friday, March 15, 2013
The Church does offer a funeral Mass and will baptize the stillborn infant:
From the Catechism (1261):
As regards children who have died without Baptism, the Church can only entrust them to the mercy of God, as she does in her funeral rites for them.
(Catholic Church. (2000). Catechism of the Catholic Church (2nd Ed.) (321). Washington, DC: United States Catholic Conference.)
Usually Catholics don't see a requiem Mass for a stillborn child but graveside committal ceremonies and funerals rites using the rite for 'children who died before being baptized' are not unheard of. There is even a prayer specific to a stillborn child in the Rite of Christian Funeral.
The Church offers the celebration of a Funeral Mass for baptized children but also for children who have died before baptism. In the case of unbaptized children certain ritual elements celebrating baptism, e.g. sprinkling with holy water, the use of the pall and incense are omitted. Special prayers are found in the ritual.
Where the Funeral Liturgy in the presence of the body is not possible, a Funeral Mass for deceased children is appropriate after burial.