New Pope Francis I Elected: Catholics in Somerville React
The white smoke appeared on Wednesday, signaling that the conclave had chosen Argentinian Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio to be the new head of the Catholic Church. Locals in the Somerville community responded.
Update, March 18, 2013: Comments from Heather Curtis, an associate professor in the Department of Religion at Tufts University, have been added to this article. Catholics in Somerville Wednesday were still digesting news that the conclave of cardinals at the Vatican had selected a new pope—Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Buenos Aires, who took the name Francis I. The initial reaction, however, seemed positive. Sister Gertrude Mary, superior of Somerville's Little Sisters of the Poor, which cares for elderly low-income people, said, "We are very pleased and happy." "I think we're just delighted, like everyone else," she said. "Everyone has been praying that the right person would be chosen." Sister Mary said Little Sisters of the Poor …
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Chris DeFilippo
1:23 pm on Saturday, May 5, 2012
I was in attendance on the 29th of April to celebrate and it was very nice. I love hearing Cardinal O'Malley speak and Father Dever gave us a chuckle when he said, he wasn't really going to speak. The reception was very good and the food kept coming. Thanks to all for a lovely Sunday with my son and granddaughter. I was married there 32 years ago, and 2/4 children were baptized as well as my … more ›