HOLY SMOKES! A new Pope has been selected

And here he is the new pope - cardinal Mario Bergoglio of Argentina. This is a surprise, also this is the first Jesuite who becomes Pope. They say that he has a good reputation, lives poorly... I wish everybody from the Catholic world to see their hopes come true.

I am watching it too and it is so exciting just waiting to see who the new Pope will be. We so need a man of change and I pray to God that he is strong enough to handle the task.

Somehow that got me excited too even though I don't really follow this story that much. I just see it in the news and the media here is making a fuss about Cardinal Tagle being one of the popular ones. Oh well it's good a new pope has been selected.

I'm watching this now and it's really amazing! We are at 12st century, we have technologies, I can see this live on my laptop, but! No one is allowed to tweet the name and everyone is waiting - this is the power of an old tradition.

Hi letran, I don't know whats happening but this is the third time I have typed this response and it keeps disappearing..but here we go again.. I am not Cotholic but I watched it anyway because it was exciting..He is the first Latim pope..he is 76 years old from Argentia and has had some health issues but is strong now..He lived in one room, not even an aartment but one room..he also took public transportation. They also reported that 39% of latino's are Catholic which is not surprising.. I did enjoy the cermony/celebraton and I really did enjoy his prayer and speech to the world.. May GOD continue to BLESS him...GOD IS GOOD!!!!

I'm not Christian, but I really care about international public life and politics, so when my boyfriend told me via e-mail that they have chosen a pope, I was watching the whole thing on an Internet TV, and I was excited... OK, for a bit for the reason that there was a candidate from my country, but I think they really made a good decision. It was high time they chose someone who is not from Europe. He seemed really humbled and smart.

Yeah looks pretty interesting that we now have a new pope. I was sick at that time so I have lots of time watching the transition. It certainly looks like the new pope has a different charisma and is very simple and humble one. I hope that he could maintain that throughout his term. I seem to like the image he wants to project to us.

hello dear brother I can't see any smoke (hehehe) Just kidding. Well, for your mom's sake please stay awake till she sleeps okay. Uhmnn- so you sleep earlier now? That's good for your health and keep it up my brother... Miss you and everyone

Hi Letran Knight: What a busy day we had indeed. In my case I have the luck of being in the other side of the world so when the election took place it was the afternoon. However the expectation was really high that I simply suspended all my job activities until they announced the new pope and it was something unexpected. ALVARO

What time in Manila it was announced that there is new Pope already? I was just surprised this morning on facebook that there is a new Pope already which is Jorge Mario Bergoglio as know as Pope Francis. Well yeah he is the first Latin American Pope.

Yes, we have a new one. I really thought of the new pope as a very humble man. He's not a striking man but I guess given his background, he does the work best when he's not covered by the media. I guess even church leaders and politicians can have a stressful day (even for a man considered to be elderly) when all the attention and pressure are on you. Being a pope, I assume, would be the hardest and the hardest responsibility ever that he could imagine and it was a nice gesture to invite everybody to pray at the start of his new term.

Love how you used the name Holy Smokes that so is perfect for this post. I just hope he does a good job.

Looks like you all got your new Pope, the smoke came out white, so I guess you all are happy now, I am not Catholic, so this doesn't bother me at all, I didn't watch any of this, on Tv because I don't own a TV, I am in Holiness religion, it way different from Catholic.

I study in a Jesuit university and everyone's happy that the new Pope is a Jesuit. It's not just because he's a Jesuit, but because we believe in the abilities of Jesuit Priests. They have preferential option for the poor. They value education and intellect.

hi letran yes for the Catholics this is exciting. I am a protestant so I do not know much about Catholics but I am sure they are excited as popes just do not resign., lol.I hope the one they pick is a good decent man and will try to clean up the churchs reputation now.

I am very happy that white smokes has arrived and the new pope has selected. I haven't seen yet the news, but I am really excited to know which one of three persons was selected. And just imagine how happy people are at Vatican.

could you tell us more who was being selected as the new pope? i hope whoever he is, he is the God sent for us. because he will embody the catholic christianity. this is a big responsibility for the whole world. so that is why he must be apt with his tasks. so i can say, may God be with him and to all of the personnel who are voting for this conclave. thanks for sharing this :)

im hoping that the new chosen pope would finally change the mistake that has been done to the catholic church centuries ago. christian faith has been defiled, because of the head of the catholic church, and reveal to the public everything that has been hid to you guys many many years ago.

While my interest regarding this topic is not as high as some people I know, in a way it affects me greatly primarily because I was born Catholic. Anyway, I had this positive feeling when I saw the new Pope's face. His aura was almost like Pope John Paul II's. A quiet, holy aura that exudes strength of faith and character. It made me comfortable. Nothing like the suspicious feeling I always got whenever I saw his predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI. So, I really hope Pope Francis' time instigates a lot of new and fruitful things that all of us will benefit from. Whether of Catholic faith or not.