habemus papam!

"Jesus teaches us another way: Go out. Go out and share your testimony, go out and interact with your brothers, go out and share, go out and ask. Become the Word in body as well as spirit..." 
- Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio (now Pope Francis)

What a day for the Church!!! A new Holy Father who is... a South American Jesuit!

I admit, I was unfamiliar with Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio until today. The past several hours have been a crash course, learning about the REALLY SUPER FREAKING COOL dude the world now knows as Pope Francis.

A man of great humility, who, after years of eschewing luxury - living in a small apartment and taking public transportation as the cardinal archbishop of Buenos Aires, chose to take the bus back to the cardinals' conclave residence at Doma Santa Marta in Rome instead of being driven there in the papal car. A man who, in 2001, washed and kissed the feet of AIDS patients in Argentinian hospice. A man who has told his flock in Argentina to give their money to the poor rather than travel to Rome to celebrate his election to the papacy.

In short, Pope Francis is exactly what the Church, and the world, need... a man who - I believe - will show all of us exactly what his namesake, St. Francis of Assisi, was all about - loving God, taking care of people, caring for the world, in humble service to Christ's Church. And of course, I think it's REALLY SUPER FREAKING COOL that Cardinal Bergoglio, a Jesuit, would choose the name of the founder of the Franciscan order, as his papal name. Because I love St. Francis of Assisi. Because he's the patron saint of the Archdiocese in which I reside. Because St. Francis is just really freaking awesome. (After all, there's a reason I have a photo of a statue of him at the top of this blog!) And because I've never been able to decide if I am more drawn to Jesuit or Franciscan spirituality. Could this be the best of all possible worlds? I mean, really??!?!?

Did I mention he trained as a chemist (and has a master's degree in chemistry!!!) prior to studying for the priesthood as a Jesuit? BOOM!!! As a Catholic chemist/materials scientist, this just adds to the REALLY SUPER FREAKING COOL factor. I am stoked, folks. Jesuit-trained-as-chemist-takes-Franciscan-name-as-Pope. Wicked awesome.

And you thought faith and reason were incompatible. Double BOOM!!!! Of course, if you really thought that, you haven't taken note of all the Catholic scientists throughout history - many of them priests, like Teilhard de Chardin - who was, oh yeah, another Jesuit. BOOM again. ;-)

Only good can come from this day... on oh-so-many levels.

And because every time I falter, our good God reminds me of purpose and goodness - and because today, that reminder came through the election of Pope Francis:

Most high, glorious God,

illumine the darkness of my heart

and give me Lord,

true faith,

certain hope,

perfect charity,

and profound humility.

Grant me, O Lord,

sense and wisdom,

to fulfill your true and holy will.

Amen.

-St. Francis of Assisi

Viva il Papa Francesco!!!!

Ad maiorem Dei gloriam!

And of course, peace and good :)

Because it's relevant: a quick pic from last weekend's most excellent journey to Taos: St. Francis and the Cross, under a blanket of fresh snow, at San Francisco de Asis Church in Ranchos de Taos.