Ave Maria Residents, Students Pray, Cheer for New Pope
- Details
-
Published on Wednesday, 13 March 2013 21:40
All eyes in Ave Maria turned toward Rome Thursday afternoon as residents and students awaited news of the identity of the new pope, and then, offered joyful prayers for Pope Francis.
As white smoke began billowing out above the Sistene Chapel, the Angelus bell rang out on the Ave Maria University campus and more than 300 students -- dismissed from classes -- gathered in the school's cafeteria, many running to get there to watch the proceedings on television. Cheers erupted when the archbishop of Buenos Aires, Cardinal Jorge Bergolio, was introduced as Pope Francis I, the first pontiff from the Americas. (photo at right by Charlene Doman)
Schoolchildren riding their bikes shouted "Habemus Papam" as several hundred residents and students gathered in the Ave Maria oratory to offer prayers for the Holy Father.
One AMU student, sophomore Leslie Delaney (left), was particularly excited. "I know the Pope," she said, explaining that her home is in Buenos Aires and her family was acquainted with him. "I am very excited," she said.
"He was known for being very orthodox, getting things done and cleaning things up, which the Church in Argentina needed."
Fr. Robert McTeigue, a Jesuit who serves as AMU's director of campus ministry, said he was "very pleasantly surprised" to see the first Jesuit pope.
"My hope is that having a Jesuit pope will deepen the charism of the Society of Jesus to be at the service of the Roman Pontiff," he said. "I am eager to hear him preach and to read what he writes; I will be delighted to see the influence of Saint Ignatius Loyola (our founder) in the words of a pope!"
Fr. Joseph Fessio, former Provost at Ave Maria University and also a Jesuit, also was pleased.
"The Pope is Pontifex Maximus, 'the biggest builder of bridges.' This pope bridges the Old World and the New, Italians and non-Italians, doctrinal orthodoxy and service to the poor."
The selection was "paradoxical," Fr. Fessio said, because "Jesuits are not to become even bishops; but they also must be obedient to the Pope—or in this case, the Cardinals in conclave. He's a Jesuit in the best Jesuit tradition—let's call it the McTeigue tradition."
Below Fr. Robert Tatman leading prayers for Pope Francis in the oratory.
