Community Corner
Washington Catholics Celebrate Election of New Pope
Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio was introduced to the world Wednesday as Pope Francis.
Catholics in the Washington metropolitan area will mark the election of Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Argentina as pope at a Mass of Thanksgiving Wednesday evening, the Archdiocese of Washington announced in a news release.
At 3:22 p.m. EDT Wednesday, Bergoglio, who took the name Pope Francis, appeared on the balcony overlooking St. Peter’s Square after news outlets reported that white smoke was pouring from a Sistine Chapel chimney, signaling the election of a new pope.
Bishop Barry Knestout, Auxiliary Bishop of Washington, will celebrate Mass at 5:30 p.m. at the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle, 1725 Rhode Island Ave., NW in Washington, DC, the archdiocese announced.
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Cardinal Donald Wuerl—archbishop of the Archdiocese of Washington, which includes Washington, DC, and Maryland's Montgomery, Prince George's, Calvert, Charles and St. Mary's counties—is one of 11 U.S. cardinals—and 115 cardinals from around the world—who took part in conclave that elected the new pope.
Click here to for “Resources on the Papacy” on the Archdiocese of Washington website.
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This article was updated at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 13.
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