Vice President Joe Biden, an Irish American Catholic, will lead the American delegation to the Inaugural mass of Pope Francis I on Tuesday next.
"I am happy to have the chance to personally relay my well wishes, and those of the American people, when I travel to Rome for his Inaugural Mass," Biden said in a statement today.
"The Catholic Church plays an essential role in my life and the lives of more than a billion people in America and around the world, not just in matters of our faith, but in pursuit of peace and human dignity for all faiths. I look forward to our work together in the coming years on many important issues."
President Obama and the First Lady Michelle also extended their well wishes to the pontiff saying the election of a South American pope “speaks to the strength and vitality of a region that is increasingly shaping our world, and alongside millions of Hispanic Americans, those of us in the United States share the joy of this historic day."
Meanwhile, Cardinal Timothy Dolan has heartily welcomed the new pope.
“The election of Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, who has taken the name Francis, marks a great milestone in our church. As successor to Peter, our first pope, Pope Francis stands as the figure of unity for all Catholics wherever they reside. The bishops of the United States and the people of our 195 dioceses offer prayers for our new leader and promise allegiance to him.
“Intense prayer from all around the world surrounded the election of Pope Francis. The bishops of the United States thank God for the guidance of the Holy Spirit and the inspired choice of the College of Cardinals.
“With joy in our hearts, we declare "Ad Multos Annos!" (For many years!)
“At Caesarea Philippi, Jesus commissioned St. Peter the rock upon which the Church would be built. Pope Francis continues that mission in an increasingly secular culture, where many people have not come to know or have forgotten that Jesus is our Savior and Redeemer,” Dolan said in a statement.
Boston’s Cardinal O’Malley also welcomed the new pontiff.
“We pledge our faithful support for the Holy Father as he leads the church in proclaiming the new evangelization, inviting all people to a develop a closer relationship with Christ and to share that gift with others,” O’Malley said.
Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Argentina was a surprise choice and one of many firsts - the first Pope Francis, the first from the Americas and the first from the Jesuit order.
Pope Francis, aged 76, appeared on the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica an hour after white smoke billowed out of the Sistine Chapel after two day’s deliberation at conclave. The French Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran announced the new pope in Latin saying, “Annuntio vobis gaudium magnum. Habemus Papam" ("I announce to you a great joy. We have a pope").
The excited crowds cheered "Viva il Papa (pope)" as he appeared.
Addressing the crowd in Italian. He said, "Brothers and sisters, good evening. You know that the work of the conclave is to give a bishop to Rome. It seems as if my brother cardinals went to find him from the end of the earth. Thank you for the welcome."
He said, "Let's pray always for each other. Let's pray for the whole world. May there be a great brotherhood,” before he recited the Lord's Prayer and a Hail Mary.
Although he had not been mentioned as a frontrunner following Pope Benedict’s resignation, when Irish American Cardinals Sean O’Malley and Timothy Dolan were both mentioned, the Buenos Aires Cardinal reportedly received the second-most votes during the conclave which resulted in Pope Benedict’s election in 2005.
He also went against the assumption made prior to the conclave that the new pope would be younger. He is among the eldest of the 155 cardinals present.
Cardinal Bergoglio is known as a conservative and humble head of the Catholic Church in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Bergoglio has never lived in an ornate mansion, opting instead for a simple bed in a downtown room, headed by a stove. For many years he travelled by public transport and cooked his own meals.
Francesca Ambrogetti, who co-authored a biography of Bergoglio, said of him, “His character is in every way that of a moderate. He is absolutely capable of undertaking the necessary renovation without any leaps into the unknown. He would be a balancing force.”
Bergoglio was born in Buenos Aires into a middle-class family of seven. His father, a railway worker, and his mother, a housewife, were of Italian descent. He entered the priesthood at the age of 32, having quit his studies in chemistry after he lost a lung due to a lab accident. For several years he worked as a missionary, visiting the slums in poverty stricken regions.
Although he has given few interviews throughout his career, Bergoglio has spoken out against the secular ways of the Argentine government and Argentine society. In 2010 Bergoglio challenged the Argentine government when it backed a gay marriage bill.
Days before the bill went to Congress he wrote a letter saying, "Let's not be naive. This isn't a simple political fight, it's an attempt to destroy God's plan."
Now named Pope Francis I, he is the 266th pope in the Church’s 2,000-year history chosen by the 155 cardinals, leaders of the world’s 1.2 billion Roman Catholics.
He is the first pope elected from the Americas. Speaking to the Associated Press, Franciscan friar Jose Antonio Cruz said, “It's a huge gift for all of Latin America. We waited 20 centuries. It was worth the wait...Everyone from Canada down to Patagonia is going to feel blessed.”
Pope Francis I is also the first pope in 2,000 years to take this name, after Saint Francis of Assisi. Vatican expert John Allen told CNN this choice of name is “stunning” and “precedent shattering.”
Most importantly the name symbolizes “poverty, humility, simplicity and rebuilding the Catholic Church.”
Allen added, “The new pope is sending a signal that this will not be business as usual.”
Pope Francis faces massive challenges as head of a Roman Catholic Church riddled with crisis and difficulty from the ongoing sexual abuse scandals to a leak of secret papal documents that reveal corruption and rivalry at the Vatican’s core, the Church’s government called the Curia.
The Associated Press has announced that Irish American Vice President Joe Biden will travel to Rome to witness the official installation of Pope Francis I as the head of the Catholic Church, which he believes may take place on Tuesday March 19th.
Here’s the Telegraph’s report on the first appearance of the new Pope Francis I:
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.seanomelb | Mar 16, 2013, 03:07 AM EDT
Francis looks like Pious X11 I hope he is not as right wing
harp579 | Mar 16, 2013, 12:05 AM EDT
VP Biden should be in a good mood after the predictions of an American pope failed to pan out. Whatever his (and Governor O'Malley etc.) chances for the Dem nomination are now, they would have been greatly diminished had Cardinal Dolan or O'Malley been tapped. Hopefully in 2016 we will get a nominee who is not cut of the now commonplace go-along-to-get-along-appease-the-wealthy cloth.
seanomelb | Mar 15, 2013, 08:32 PM EDT
Maybe Francis will sell all those "bishop palaces"around the world and give the money to the poor or make reparation to those assaulted by priest some of whom are probably cardinals.
misneac | Mar 15, 2013, 07:22 PM EDT
If that clown Ballylanger really believes what he says ,why didnt he take up religion ??
eiriamach | Mar 15, 2013, 02:27 PM EDT
Who can best "represent" the United States at the Vatican ceremonies? A Protestant. But probably Obama is busy that day, so he's sending Joe in his place. Current Pew Research shows that self-reported "strong religious identity" is far higher in the U.S. among Protestants than among Catholics: 54 percent for Protestants vs 27 percent for Catholics. This represents a falling off for Catholicism since 1974, when religious-identity studies began and "strong" religious identity for Protestants was 43 percent vs 46 percent for Catholics. Today only 7 percent of American adults identify as "strong Catholics." It looks like every one of them hangs out at IC! Keep the facts in mind when you read comments from the Catholic Complainers below. We are largely a Judeo-Christian nation with strong Protestant leanings. Joe Biden understands that.
bunkerhill | Mar 15, 2013, 02:14 PM EDT
Where are the beautiful, friendly Irish we always met in Ireland, along with the always friendly Irish-Americans we meet regularly? Certainly not on this site. Personally even though only one of us is Catholic but not practicing, we think Pope Francis is an excellent choice. As for Joe Biden, he is very proud of his Irish, Catholic ancestry and has the right to attend the ceremony in Rome if he chooses. Why make this a totally political event?
eiriamach | Mar 15, 2013, 11:57 AM EDT
I thank God we elected Joe Biden. Public officials who act on conscience and on the principle of equal respect for others' consciences are a rare breed these days. We are fortunate to have one as VP. Catholics who think an elected official has a duty to impose the pope's and bishops' "moral rules" on the American public have no idea what it means to be an American. Under their "moral rules," I would lose the right to my own body and the most basic of my human rights, as well as the equal protection of US anti-discrimination laws. The basis of my rights as a woman is the timeless natural law of the equality of all human beings, equal dignity, and this is a basis that the Vatican and bishops are actively seeking to demolish and replace with what they call "traditional values." No thanks.
NYCFiredog | Mar 14, 2013, 10:27 PM EDT
And my Bite Me be the first supposedly Catholic Politician be denied the Body of Christ as the Pope says he aims to do.
BippyBellito | Mar 14, 2013, 08:40 PM EDT
Sending this fraud,Joe Biden ,to represent The U.S. is an insult to all Catholics who believe in the sanctity of life. How many ways can the Obama administration come up with to insult our faith?
EphraimKibbey | Mar 14, 2013, 06:57 PM EDT
Francis I seems to be continuing in the shoes of his namesake even after his election just as he had before. If refusing to accept the special car brought for him and riding the bus with the other cardinals and then dismissing all of his servants on arrival at his palace is any indication. The news reported that he asked God's forgiveness for those who were trying to "coddle" him in the way they would normally treat the Pope. I wonder if the curia are about to fall upon lean times. Having a Pope who takes seriously his vow of poverty may be a hard leader for some of the more comfortable heirarchy to follow. It was also said that as Archbishop, he admonished priests who were refusing communion to unwed mothers. The RCC heirarchy may have a true believer on its hands. Best Wishes for his papacy, may it continue in as enlightened a manner as it began.
ballylanger | Mar 14, 2013, 06:25 PM EDT
Religion is where the smart get to make loads of money and have an easy life out of screwing the gullible when they get to take a break from counting the two short planks.
pilib04 | Mar 14, 2013, 06:17 PM EDT
Presumably Boston99 is not referring to Pope Francis. Although the new Pope maintained a close relationship with Argentine's vibrant Jewish community (the largest in Latin America) and with Argentine's Irish community (the fifth largest in the WORLD). As for the insults of the Vice President, well, YOU LOST, GET OVER IT! Paul Ryan will never be anything but a hack, fanatic, right wing congressman.
seanomelb | Mar 14, 2013, 06:00 PM EDT
I am amused at the venom and filth posred by some below how christain of them.The hypocrotes. maggiepoo you are well named you smell of bigotry.
Peggy P | Mar 14, 2013, 04:39 PM EDT
The Catholic Church plays an essential role in his life? Does that include upir stand on abortion too? Heh Joe. What a hypocrit!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Mr. Boston99 | Mar 14, 2013, 03:54 PM EDT
Taking a break from kissing ass at AIPAC?
ktrush512 | Mar 14, 2013, 02:06 PM EDT
This is a great opportunity for the Holy Father to set the tone for his pontificate by denying Communion to this shill for infanticide.
PhlutiePhan | Mar 14, 2013, 01:33 PM EDT
Joe Biden states that he is Catholic and yet espouses every cause and belief against the Catholic Church. Cardinal Raymond Burke was out to put him in his place. The Obama then went out and established a cabal of supportive bishops to bring down Burke just before the election of 2008. Conservative groups in the Church have characterized BHO as a modern day King Herod for his killing of the Innocents. Once they were supportive and giving witness, they were then identified by this liberal group of bishops and silenced from the pulpit.
mreinhar2001 | Mar 14, 2013, 12:28 PM EDT
God bless Pope Francis I.
antoman | Mar 14, 2013, 11:55 AM EDT
Biden should make the remark to the Pope that a few German U-Boats showed up in Argentina at the end of WW2. He should then inquire of the Pope what became of the submarines crews. For the craic like.
jamieLM | Mar 14, 2013, 11:30 AM EDT
@seanmor, I also believe in Christian unity because I no longer believe in "one true church" in Christianity. All Christian denominations have something to offer. I think God/Jesus must be disgusted that Christians waste so much time on what divides them instead of what unites them. We get hung up on individual interpretations and all these traditions that aren't rooted in Scripture, often having no historical/scientific basis, and miss the big picture. It's living out one's Christian faith as modeled by Jesus that really matters. John 3:16
porkheaven | Mar 14, 2013, 11:10 AM EDT
Biden scares me he will not keep his feet out of his mouth there must have been a better choice.
southside77 | Mar 14, 2013, 11:10 AM EDT
Biden is a enthusiastic and avid supporter of abortion and partial birth abortion which is outright murder. My hope is that Pope Francis to set this pile of parrot droppings straight and he sees the Light and if he does not see the Light his excommunication takes place. Power to the People not the politicians.
CavanAncestor | Mar 14, 2013, 10:47 AM EDT
Let's hope Biden can keep his feet out of his mouth, where he usually stores them. No limoncello for you, Joe! Loose lips etc anf yours are already too loose.
joan1954 | Mar 14, 2013, 10:37 AM EDT
Biden? You have to be kidding.
ellenfromcork | Mar 14, 2013, 09:06 AM EDT
I'm thankful he came to the priesthood later in life and has had experience of normal life. I'm told there was a girlfriend in there somewhere.
Seanmor | Mar 14, 2013, 09:00 AM EDT
hands68: I certainly agree with you about Christian unity. I began to practice my own ecumenism in 1963 at the Subic Bay navy base in the Philippines. About 2 Sundays a month I would volunteer to escort prisoners from the brig to PROTESTANT church services. That was in the early stages of the U.S. involvement in Vietnam and before the changes of Vatican 11 took effect. Many years later I married the widow of a Presbyterian minister in a Methodist church (the faith in which she was raised in New England) As recently as yesterday I attended Bible classes with her in her local Methodist church. At an multi-denominational service in that same church a few years ago, the minister invited anyone who spoke another language to say the Lord's Prayer in than language. Then in a very loud voive I began, "Ár nAthair atá ar neamh, go naomhfar d'ain..." All of us Christians have one thing in common: Jesus Christ.
Gaelicpiper | Mar 14, 2013, 08:54 AM EDT
Biden is going to Rome- if we are lucky, he will not come back.
handsome68 | Mar 14, 2013, 07:54 AM EDT
I wish that Cardinal Dolan was praying for unity among all Christians, and not just all Catholics. Oh well, I don't expect much, if anything, from Cardinal Dolan, and I say that as a practicing Catholic.