Scottish Catholic Observer

Reacting to tonight’s announcement that Argentinian Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio has been elected Pope, Archbishop Philip Tartaglia, president of the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland, said he ‘can only see this quick result as God’s work.’

“I was surprised that the conclave was so quick,” Archbishop Tartaglia of Glasgow (above) said. “It took hardly any longer than the election of Benedict XVI. Given the pre-conclave situation, and the absence of a single dominant figure, I can only see this quick result as God’s work. As soon as I heard I went into my chapel and offered a grateful and joyful prayer of thanksgiving … Deo Gratias!”

Archbishop Tartaglia added: “He is a man of firsts. The first Latin American. The first Jesuit. The first Pope Francis. I think we can take from his first appearance that he is a humble, spiritual and calm man. A reconciler and healer, with a strong background on social justice. His name reminds us of the little saint of Assisi. A simple man who was the poor servant of Jesus and who was given the message ‘rebuild my church’. It is a very significant message for our time. He may also have in mind St Francis Xavier the great missionary and a reminder of the need for a new evangelisation.”

The archbishop, who became Apostolic administrator for St Andrews and Edinburgh following Cardinal Keith O’Brien’s recent resignation, went on to say: ”We missed having a Pope. Catholics feel the need for Peter. We now have Peter back. The new Pope will give us joy and confidence.”

Argentinian Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio was chosen as the next Pope tonight on the fifth round of votes by the 115 cardinals meeting in the Sistine Chapel to select Pope Benedict XVI’s successor. He is the first Latin American and the first Jesuit to become Bishop of Rome, and has chosen the name Francis I.