NASHVILLE, Tenn. –
Catholics in Nashville gathered downtown at the Cathedral of the Incarnation to
celebrate and give support to their new leader, Pope Francis.
Jorge Bergoglio of Argentina
was elected pope Wednesday, becoming the first pontiff from the Americas and
the first from outside Europe in more than a millennium. He chose the name
Francis, associating himself with the humble 13th-century Italian preacher who
lived a life of poverty.
Pope Francis will lead 1.2
billion Catholics worldwide, including those in Middle Tennessee.
A special rally was quickly
organized at Aquinas College along Harding Pike after the announcement that a
new pope had been selected. Dozens of people turned out to talk about the
excitement of the day.
Father John Baker from the
Cathedral of the Incarnation had what was probably a similar reaction to the
millions of people glued to their television when Bergoglio was announced as
the new pope.
"Wow. I mean what else can
you say, it's a lot quicker than I was expecting for one thing. A lot of firsts
– First Pope from the Americas, and I think the first Jesuit pope, so it's very
exciting," he said.
Father Baker thought Pope
Francis seemed comfortable and poised in his first appearance as the new church
leader.
"He just seemed to be
quite content to just stand there and I thought he was very poised. What a
difficult role to be thrust into and he just seemed to be able to stand there
and just enjoy the moment, and just - when it quieted down, to speak," he
said.
Before the rally hundreds of
Catholic school children watched history in the making.
Hundreds of students were also
waiting in suspense at Christ the King School on Belmont Boulevard. They all
huddled together in the gym with eyes glued to the video live feed from Vatican
City.
"It helps us become part
of our faith. We get to watch this election process and witness it first
hand," said 8th grader Sarah Wilson. "We can study it, but witnessing
it first hand is completely different and it's a completely new kind of
thing."
Wilson said for her class, the
election of the pope allowed them to see a part of history that doesn't happen
very often.
"It was very important for
us to do that because not every class gets to do that, and this only happens
every so often. It's not like you can just turn it on one day," said
Wilson.
The day of celebration ended at
the Cathedral of the Incarnation on West End Avenue.
There Nashville Bishop David
Choby presided over a special votive mass in celebration of Pope Francis.
"(It's) a joyful day, and
a happy day that the church once again has its chief Shepard," Bishop
Choby said.
The Bishop explained how he was
surprised the church's Cardinals came to a decision on a new pope so quickly.
"I thought it might go
into Thursday, even possibly Friday, but anyway, everybody is excited about the
prospect of Pope Francis," the Bishop explained.
Pope Francis' election was
historic on several levels, but the Bishop spoke out about him being the first
Latin Pope to lead the church.
"The Hispanic culture has
contributed so much to the life of the church through the centuries, and now
for that community to have as Pope, one of their own, I am sure must bring them
great joy," according to the Bishop.
Hundreds of students were also
waiting in suspense at Christ the King School on Belmont Boulevard. They all
huddled together in the gym with eyes glued to the video live feed from Vatican
City.
Students knew they were
watching history unfold.
"It helps us become part
of our faith. We get to watch this election process and witness it first
hand," said 8th grader Sarah Wilson. "We can study it, but witnessing
it first hand is completely different and it's a completely new kind of
thing."
Wilson said for her class, the
election of the pope allowed them to see a part of history that doesn't happen
very often.
"It was very important for
us to do that because not every class gets to do that, and this only happens
every so often. It's not like you can just turn it on one day," said
Wilson.
Pope
Francis was expected to celebrate a Mass on Thursday at the altar in front of
Michelangelo's "Last Judgment" in the Sistine Chapel with the
cardinals.
On
his first full day he also plans to pray at St. Mary Major basilica in Rome. American
Cardinal Timothy Dolan said Francis told fellow cardinals he would visit
Benedict on Thursday.
The Cathedral of the Incarnation in Nashville.
Local Catholic students gather outside Aquinas College in Nashville.
Students at Christ the King School on Belmont Boulevard watch the video feed as Pope Francis was announced as the new leader of the church.
