Photo by Troy Harvey, Ventura County Star
Father Tom Elewaut quizzes a group of Holy Cross students about the name of the newly elected pope Wednesday afternoon.
Photo by Karen Quincy Loberg, Ventura County Star
The breeze outside St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church in Camarillo lifts a purple cloth draped on the crucifix on Wednesday, the day Jorge Bergogolio is named Pope Francis, the first cardinal from the Americas to take that seat.
The words shadowed the smile that emerged when Ernestina Ramirez learned Jorge Mario Bergoglio — Pope Francis — comes from Argentina.
“Papa Latino,” she said at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Oxnard, her smile broadening.
The pope, born to Italian immigrants, is the first from Latin America. To Ramirez’s daughter — Juliana Ramirez-Cid — that feels like a connection.
“As we are Hispanics and knowing that we have a Hispanic pope,” said the Oxnard bookkeeper, stumbling to explain her feelings before finding the right word. “Happy ... I’m speechless.”
To some, the selection of a pope from the Americas — another first — seems a sign of respect.
“It means there’s some recognition of the number of Latinos in the world and the need to reach out spiritually to that,” said Daniel Delgado, the parish’s musical director.
At St. Anthony’s, news of the pope came at a monthly school Mass because a teacher’s phone was armed with an app called PopeAlarm. Others learned the news through pealing church bells or a glimpse of the gold and white bunting on the door of San Buenaventura Mission in Ventura.
At St. Jude the Apostle Catholic Community, a Westlake Village parish, the news came in a midday Mass.
“White smoke poured out of the Vatican,” Deacon Joe Manion told parishioners. “We have a new pope.”
When parishioners learned he was from Argentina, they applauded loudly.
“I think it’s good to have someone from South America,” said Gemma Marrone of Westlake Village. “It will give us a new perspective of a different part of the world.”
By the time Marrone walked out of the church, she had used her phone to find Pope Francis’ photo online.
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She said she hopes he will be close to the people and a good communicator — something she thinks the Catholic church had with John Paul II and needs to continue. Then she headed home, back to the news coverage.
“I had to tear myself away to come here,” she said.
Staff at Padre Serra Parish in Camarillo crowded into an office Wednesday watching as the newly named pope addressed the crowd in Rome.
“I would say that it was a little bit of a party,” said the Rev. Patrick Mullen. “We were getting phone calls from outside from very involved parishioners. We had one man who’s out on the base and had to stay at work, but wanted us to call him right back to let him know what we heard.”
Mullen was moved as he watched Pope Francis ask for prayers before giving the crowd a benediction.
“There’s something very touching about his willingness to ask for prayers before he gives a blessing,” Mullen said.
Some see humility. Some hope Francis brings change. Manny Vega of Oxnard, who alleges he was molested by a priest as an altar boy, wants the new pope to take a critical look at clergy abuse and deal with it differently.
“I don’t think there’s really ever been transparency with the sexual abuse cases,” he said. “I think that’s what all of the victims for the most part want: The truth.”
Ann Long, 82, of Westlake Village, said she hopes the new leader will consider issues like ordaining female priests or allowing priests to get married.
“Some of the more liberal ideas should come forward,” she said.
Photo by Troy Harvey, Ventura County Star
Flowers are seen placed at the foot of the statue of Blessed Virgin Mary in the garden at the San Buenaventura Mission on Wednesday afternoon.
Photo by Cheri Carlson
As the world waited for word on who cardinals selected as pope, several dozen parishioners met for noon mass at St. Jude church in Westlake Village. "White smoke poured out of the Vatican," the priest told them. "We have a new pope."
Photo by Michael J. Van Hecke
Students at St. Augustine Academy in Ventura celebrate the selection of Pope Francis on Wednesday in front of the school along Wells Road just south of Telegraph Road.
Frank Reveles, 65, of Oxnard was surprised the pope had been chosen so quickly. A Catholic, Reveles said he wasn’t as concerned about where the man came from, instead focusing on what he wants Francis to do.
“He’s got to take care of all these bad priests,” he said. “I really don’t care who it is as long as they clean up.”
Brian Kelly, dean at Thomas Aquinas College in Santa Paula, lauded the choice of the first pope from Latin America.
“He is someone not unfamiliar with Rome. That’s important because he’s going to be the bishop of Rome,” Kelly said. “But he also has to be the pope for the entire Catholic world.”
When the news broke that white smoke was billowing out of the chimney, Kelly was sitting in his office. He went to the chapel to help students ring the bells before heading to the chaplain’s residence that houses the campus’s one television.
“It was jampacked with students who were cheering and stamping,” Kelly said. “I stayed in there and waited and watched with them until we found out who he was, and we got to see him and listen to him.”
Kelly said it’s difficult to say exactly what led to the quick selection process since the cardinals must take an oath of secrecy. It couldn’t have happened as quickly if there was real dissension, he said.
“I take that as a very good sign. They know who he is. He’s been around for awhile. And, I guess they like what they saw,” Kelly said. “That suggests to me that he’s got their confidence and that’s a reason for us to be confident.”
Rose Marie Garcia of Ventura is 74 and has attended church at San Buenaventura Mission her entire life. She wants people to unite behind the new pope. She offered her own wish list for Francis.
“Peace among everyone,” she said.
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Comments » 48
Huskerfan writes:
Excellent choice for Pope, and excellent choice for a name. A new beginning for the Church.
nickeq writes:
My congrats to all my Catholic friends. This is a great day for the whole world. Let there be peace & prosperity for all of God's children. Aamin
thick (Inactive) writes:
He is Italian.....from Argentina.
misterlizard writes:
Who cares where he is from. If he can support contraception and stop child molestation he might be of some value to the world. If not, then nothing has really changed and he's just another guy taking money from the poor.
Huskerfan writes:
And what value do you bring to the world? What have you done to right the world's wrongs? What have you done to improve anyone's life?
Nothing, I would bet.
misterlizard writes:
You would be wrong. Not only do I pay taxes (unlike the church), I work to help those trying to make something of there lives. I work harder at that than most around me and have made a difference in many lives. I have been honest. I have not mollested children or covered up the mollestation of children by others in my organization. I have taught others about birth control and human population growth. Sure, I've never had a position with such power, but I've done good in the world instead of adding to its misery. To be fair, the bar has been set pretty low.
thick (Inactive) writes:
Contraception.. It frees women, right? That is why it has worked so well.
Huskerfan writes:
"Not only do I pay taxes (unlike the church)"
The Church gives away billions in charity every year according to this chart on The Friendly Atheist: http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendly....
"I work harder at that than most around me and have made a difference in many lives. I have been honest. I have not mollested children or covered up the mollestation of children by others in my organization."
So have the vast, vast majority of priests and bishops in the 2000 year history of the Church, including dying for others.
"I have taught others about birth control and human population growth."
So you're asking the leader of the Church to change overnight 2000 years of teachings? Probably not going to happen.
"Sure, I've never had a position with such power, but I've done good in the world instead of adding to its misery."
Most people haven't been in his position. Even the most powerful leader in the world would have a difficult time affecting the actions of one lone predator.
Is the Church infallible? It's only as strong as the weakest member I would say. Has it been perfect? No, but over the course of 20 centuries there are bound to be mistakes and actions to regret.
I get it. You're not a big fan of the Church but to completely ignore the good it has done makes you just as wrong in your argument as someone who ignores the problems it has.
Resolute_Yet_Ambivalent writes:
The conversation goes a little deeper here: http://www.vcstar.com/news/2013/mar/1...
Resolute_Yet_Ambivalent writes:
I had high hopes for a pope who would be more modern and liberal and tolerant of gays and unwed mothers, and birth control, but it's not happening. Not even close.
guy133 writes:
Huskerfan said: "So you're asking the leader of the Church to change overnight 2000 years of teachings? Probably not going to happen."
I think that was kind of misterlizard's point when he said: "...then nothing has really changed...".
northwestprincess writes:
Blessings to Pope Francis, a Jesuit & from Latin America, wow ! While he is fairly "old school", he is 76, with one lung, his reign won't be for decades. The Cardinals made this decision in only a little over a day, American politicians might be able to learn something from these decisive leaders ~~~
Huskerfan writes:
Really? I don't know what group of Cardinals you were looking at.
focalmatic writes:
What makes you so high and mighty huskerfan? What do you do to help people when you're not husking corn?
layservantofjmj#224844 writes:
Holy Spirit ,Bless and give an outpouring of Your Gifts upon our Holy Father Francis. Give him strength and health in body,mind ,soul and spirit.Bless his ministry and make it fruitful.Protect him from his enemies and travels. Supply for all his needs.
from the 3rd Sorrowful mysteries , Mystical Rosary by Fr Luke Zimmer
bikey1 writes:
How much corn would a corn husker husk if a corn husker could husk corn?
northwestprincess writes:
Ah, perspective, you hit it out of the park, too funny !!!
Tomcat_Driver writes:
At least he has not coddled child molestors while lecturing people on their immorality for using contraception.
Joanna writes:
Anything you put into your body should take great consideration, whether its a pill or food. Take some responsibility. Catholics and all freedoms are now a target. We can no longer pray in public or speak of God. That is a problem for all believers. We pretend to understand lent and the holy days but do not take the time for reverence and prevarication. If we could fix it all by ourselves we wouldn't need a pope to lead us. Take this time to consider that older, wiser people deserve respect.
eng42 writes:
ONE lone priest? There have been a whole lot more than that and over the years probably many hundreds.
And the church has changed positions many times in 2000 years. They used to allow priests to marry until they decided it was uneconomical.
And, after hundreds of years, they finally admitted they were wrong when they persecuted Galileo for saying the Earth went around the sun.
It is not a coincidence that the church is shrinking in the educated world like America and Europe.
RIGHTisRIGHT writes:
How do you know ?
peppermezzetta writes:
Also in the news:
The Archdiocese of Los Angeles has agreed to pay four men almost $10 million to settle allegations of sexual abuse by a former priest.
A settlement reached between the Joliet Diocese and a man who accused one of its priests of molesting him as a boy will result in the release of personnel files and documents related to 15 priests considered sex offenders.
The hierarchy of Scotland's Catholic church was on the defensive again last night over claims that bishops knew of as many as 20 allegations of child sex abuse by priests in the 1980s and 90s, along with a separate revelation that the Vatican is currently considering the case of a Scottish priest accused of child sex abuse.
Another person has come forward with claims they were sexually abused by the late Brother Stephen Baker. According to a news release, the Catholic Diocese of Youngstown received a phone call on Feb. 28 from a former student of John F. Kennedy High School in Warren, alleging that he was abused by Baker while he was attending school there.
The Diocese of Charleston has placed a priest on administrative leave after someone made an allegation of sexual misconduct against him. Church officials said they are cooperating fully with investigators reviewing the allegation against Hayden Vaverek.
A Catholic brother who taught at O'Dea High School in the 1970's has been named again in sex abuse lawsuit. Christian Brother Edward Courtney has once again been named in a lawsuit filed in King County Superior Court. A 52-year-old Seattle man claims he was abused by the priest while he was a student at O'Dea. The lawsuit claims the abuse at the school and at Brother Courtney's mother's house in 1975 and 1977.
misterlizard writes:
Gay marriage is a "machination of the Father of Lies." Adoption by gay people is discrimination against children. Words of wisdom from the new Pope
Another Pope, another bigot. Come on folks, time to leave these old guys behind. The nuns in America have, to some extent, already figured this out.
Huskerfan writes:
Should we start listing every teacher that has been accused and/or convicted of molesting? What is LAUSD doing to prevent that? How long did the administrators at Mira Monte know there was a problem before admitting it (after the parents went to the police)?
http://articles.latimes.com/2013/jan/...
http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/loc...
http://abcnews.go.com/US/lausd-teache...
http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/j...
misterlizard writes:
We should go after anyone who has covered up the sexual abuse of children. Schools, Scouts, churches, none of them should be cut any slack.
peppermezzetta writes:
More news...
March 14: A retired Roman Catholic priest was given an 11-year sentence in a western Newfoundland court on Thursday for sexually abusing children. George Ansel Smith, 75, was sentenced in Supreme Court in Corner Brook for offences involving 13 children he assaulted between 1969 and 1989. Smith pleaded guilty to 38 charges, including sexual assault, indecent assault and assault. The offences occurred largely in western Newfoundland, but also involved complainants in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick.
March 11: There are more abuse allegations against a Roman Catholic priest who is already accused of abusing a young boy in Ipswich. The Salem News says Rev. Richard McCormack has been indicted on additional counts of child sex abuse. Last year, McCormack was charged with abusing a young boy in the early 1980s. That's when McCormack worked at the Salesian Brothers' Sacred Heart retreat center and seminary in Ipswich.
More updates when they happen.
caroldammit writes:
Is it inappropriate to congratulate a new Pope? Well, I'm comforted in knowing I won't take any prizes in that area. :-D May he live up to the ideals of his namesake!
Seigneur, faites de moi un instrument de votre paix.
Là où il y a de la haine, que je mette l'amour.
Là où il y a l'offense, que je mette le pardon.
Là où il y a la discorde, que je mette l'union.
Là où il y a l'erreur, que je mette la vérité.
Là où il y a le doute, que je mette la foi.
Là où il y a le désespoir, que je mette l'espérance.
Là où il y a les ténèbres, que je mette votre lumière.
Là où il y a la tristesse, que je mette la joie.
Ô Maître, que je ne cherche pas tant à être consolé qu'à consoler,
à être compris qu'à comprendre,
à être aimé qu'à aimer,
car c'est en donnant qu'on reçoit,
c'est en s'oubliant qu'on trouve, c'est en pardonnant qu'on est pardonné,
c'est en mourant qu'on ressuscite à l'éternelle vie.
bronzestarvue writes:
I watched CNN last night, and there was a priest on there that said something interesting about the role of the Pope. He said something to the effect that it isn't the Pope's role to establish new policy or doctrine, like allowing female priests, allowing male priests to marry, recognizing gays, etc. Policy and doctrine have already been established for decades, if not centuries, and it's not his place to change it, merely to "enforce" it, as it should be. True Catholics would not be clamoring for women priests, or letting priests get married, or allowing gays in the Church, etc. That's not what the traditional Catholic church is about. If there are those that don't like it, then leave and join another church, there's nothing stopping them.
Resolute_Yet_Ambivalent writes:
Exactly.
LiketoRead writes:
The Catholic religion is centuries old.
Why do you feel it needs a new begining?
Were you unhappy with your faith before this new Pope?
Do you think this new(actually old) figurehead will cure the ills of the Church?
Will he tell the working poor to stop donating their hard earned money? That it is time for the Church to support their own satellite churches since they have billions of dollars invested which in return creates millions of dollars in interest revenue or investment profits?
Please educate me, I just don't get it.
misterlizard writes:
Exactly. All good, moral people should leave the church behind. They should forge a new, better future that these old men have no interest in.
LiketoRead writes:
What's up with this?
http://news.yahoo.com/iran-russia-vat...
abovetheclouds writes:
Husker, chill out.
abovetheclouds writes:
This.
abovetheclouds writes:
Last time i checked, we lived in the USA.
When did praying in public or speaking of god become illegal in this country?
Do what you want, just don't throw it in the faces of others.
abovetheclouds writes:
Ew.
LiketoRead writes:
You need to be lead? You cannot follow your own path? That's sad.
And older does not always mean wiser.
Read the following link and decide.
http://news.yahoo.com/iran-russia-vat...
eng42 writes:
A nice saying, but I doubt he said it in French, since he was Italian(:-)
caroldammit writes:
Oops! I meant to copy/paste the English translation. :)
eng42 writes:
At first I thought it might be Latin. Here's the translation--
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love.
Where there is injury, pardon;.
Where there is discord, I may bring union.
Where there is error, I may bring truth.
Where there is doubt, I may bring faith.
Where there is despair, let me sow hope.
Where there is darkness, let me bring your light.
Where there is sadness, I may bring joy.
O Master, I not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love,
for it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are, it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
SS93035 writes:
Catholics also use to conquer new lands and kill the Natives if they didn't convert. I'm pretty sure they aren't doing that any more along with alot of other things. In general, Western Religion has slowly conformed to the freedoms of Westerners.
monkey68 writes:
shrinking? seriously? and did you mean "blinded"?instead of educated, yes the devil is a liar;)
eng42 writes:
Yes, shrinking. You really need to become informed. And the devil is a figment of the imagination and is used to scare people in to docile compliance.
Benny_G writes:
I just figured out that I AM the truth and the light! Crazy right?!?! I know... I'm kinda stoked.. So ya'll better be nice because this dude that's painted red with horns,a sharp tail and pitch fork is GONNA GIT YA!
MMUUUUAAAHHHAAAHAAAAAA!!!!
ms_reason writes:
Great comment.
ms_reason writes:
So basically your views are the only ones everybody should have. No other beliefs are valid....only yours.
Sad.
misterlizard writes:
Of course not. This guy may prefer carnitas while I prefer camarones al mojo de ajo. That is a difference of opinion. His statements however are simply bigoted and hateful. The opposition of the Catholic church to condoms has resulted in the death of many, many Africans. The suppression of women throughout the world has done the same. The covering up of child mollestation case after child molestation case has been a horrific crime against children. These are the facts.
stana2z writes:
This one is not exactly without faults. No one is. Look up Argentina's "Dirty War" of the 1970's.
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