Tillsonburg welcomes new Pope
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The bells of St. Mary’s rang out in Tillsonburg Tuesday, as Catholics around the world welcomed the new leader of the Roman Catholic Church, Pope Francis.
“I think it’s an exciting time for our church,” said Father Tom Ferrera of St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church in Tillsonburg. “I think that it’s an historic election because he is the first Pope from outside of Europe in many, many years.”
Jorge Bergoglio 76, from Argentina became Pope Francis on Tuesday afternoon, just two days after the conclave began in Rome. He is the first Pope from the Americas, the first Jesuit Pope, and is the first Pope to take the name Francis, in honour of St. Francis of Assisi – an Italian Catholic friar and preacher revered by Catholics for his work with the poor.
Pope Francis is the new leader for the world’s 1.2 billion Catholics, 40 per cent of whom, it is estimated, live in Latin America
Father Tom Ferrera noted the change in numbers of Catholics living in different parts of the world today, and said that may have been a reason behind the selection of the new Pope.
“There is a large percentage of Catholics that live in South America and it’s an area of the Catholic world that’s growing,” said Ferrera “I think there’s certainly a sense that may have been a factor or had a part to play in a decision.”
Many Catholics living in Tillsonburg were said to be thrilled with the news announced to the world Tuesday afternoon.
“I think our parishners are really excited and I think they have been watching the news and following along and waiting for the election of the new Pope. We rang the bells of the church when we heard that there was a new Pope,” explained Ferrera. “I got a couple of text messages saying we have a new Pope so everyone’s excited about it.”
Father Tom Ferrera has been a Catholic priest for the past seven years and has been with St. Mary’s Church in Tillsonburg for the past year and a half. While he and others around the world may not know much about their new leader, Ferrera said they look forward to the next few years with Pope Francis as head of the Catholic Church.
“I don’t know a lot about this cardinal, now Pope Francis, so I am excited to learn more him and also to learn about some of the gifts he brings,” he said “He has a great love for the poor – he chose the name Francis, which I think has a strong symbolic meaning. It shows that he was very deliberate in choosing that name for a reason.
“We’re looking forward to hearing him speak to us over the next few days, see who he is and what he’s like,” said Ferrera.
“I think that no matter his personality, we see in the Pope Christ, and we pray for him every day.”