Local clergy, faithful drawn to Pope Francis

Wednesday's election of Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Argentina as the Catholic Church's pope has sparked worldwide interest in the new pontiff and the course of actions he may take.

Bergoglio, 76, who chose the name Francis, has drawn keen interest from local Catholic clergy and parishioners -- and their first impressions are favorable.

"It's way too early to get a grip on any direction he might take," said the Rev. John Harth, pastor of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Jackson. "But I believe that Pope Francis has an enthusiasm for spreading the good news of Jesus Christ and it couldn't come at a better time," said Harth, who liked how Pope Francis presented himself upon election.

"It was touching when he bowed to the people in Rome and then asked them to pray for him," he said. "It was great to see."

The Rev. Patrick Nwokoye, director and chaplain of the Newman Center at Southeast Missouri State University, also likes the common touch Pope Francis has shown in his first days as head of the church.

"He rode the bus with the cardinals after his election instead of taking a private car," Nwokoye said. "He carried his own bags and even paid for his hotel bill. I was thinking, 'Wow.'"

Nwokoye also is impressed by the spiritual leader's history of helping the poor.

"One of the hallmarks of the Gospels is helping the poor," Nwokoye said. "I think he wants us to get back to that. The poor are looked down upon, and this pope will shine a light on them."

The Rev. Tom Kiefer, pastor of St. Mary's Cathedral in Cape Girardeau, said Pope Francis possesses a humility that Catholics and people of other faiths can admire.

"From what I've seen so far, he's real," Kiefer added. "He believes what he says and isn't the type to expect others to do what he wouldn't do."

Kiefer believes Pope Francis was elected at the right time.

"I believe God puts leaders in place at given times, and I think Pope Francis will be well received,"he said.

Kiefer led a Mass of Thanksgiving for the election of Pope Francis on Friday at St. Mary's Cathedral. Many parishioners expressed good feelings about their new leader.

"I feel good about him," said Beth McFerron of Cape Girardeau. "I think he'll be able to relate to a majority of people, including people of different faiths."

Michael Gardner of Cape Girardeau is excited.

"I think it's good the church will have a pope from South America," he said. "I like how his plan for the papacy will put an emphasis on helping the poor. The church is for everyone in this world."

Pope Francis is the first pope from the Americas and the first Jesuit chosen for the papacy.

A native of Buenos Aires, Argentina, the man born Jorge Mario Bergoglio was ordained as a priest in 1969. In 1998 he became the Archbishop of Buenos Aires and, in 2001, a cardinal. After the surprising resignation of Pope Benedict XVI in February, the College of Cardinals met in Rome and elected Bergoglio, who chose the papal name Francis in honor of Saint Francis of Assisi.

Early criticism of Pope Francis comes from Argentina, where human-rights activists have condemned him for failing to confront the 1976 to 1983 military junta for its kidnapping and killing of thousands of people in a war to eliminate its leftist opponents. In 2012, under Cardinal Bergoglio's leadership, Argentina's bishops issued a collective apology for the church's failures to protect its flock during years of dictatorship.

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