Pope Francis: Choosing a Jesuit as a reformer — on many levels

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- The church has turned to religious orders for popes at various times over the centuries, often when in need of a reformer, and such may have been the cardinals' thinking again when they elected Pope Francis.

World offers words of hope, joy to Pope Francis

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Catholic leaders worldwide expressed words of hope and joy in calling upon Catholics to come together as one body behind the papacy of Pope Francis.

Pope Francis: Without faith in Christ, church is just ‘pitiful NGO’

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Without faith in Christ's sacrifice on the cross, the church is nothing more than a "pitiful NGO," Pope Francis said in his first homily as pope.

Obama, Biden, Kerry send pope their best wishes

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- President Barack Obama, his vice president and secretary of state offered newly elected Pope Francis their warm wishes.

Argentine priests in Washington cheer choice of countryman as pope

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- For any Catholic living west of the Atlantic Ocean or in the Southern Hemisphere, it must seem impressive to have someone from that particular region chosen as pope for the first time.

U.S. cardinals describe Pope Francis as ideal choice for modern times

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Two U.S. cardinals described Pope Francis as an ideal choice to lead the church in the modern world.

‘This is a glorious day,’ says tearful woman about papal announcement

People young and old, of every race, culture and background, gathered together the afternoon of March 13 near the cafeteria at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception to watch the announcement of the election of Argentine Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio as pope.

Crowd in St. Peter’s Square joyously welcomes Pope Francis

The tens of thousands of rain-drenched pilgrims who filled St. Peter's Square March 13 joyously cheered the new leader of the church, Pope Francis. Cheers of "Francesco! Francesco! Francesco!" resounded throughout the square as he greeted the exuberant crowd in Italian and blessed them from the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica.

Latin Americans say pope’s election is recognition of global South

Latin Americans said the election of the first pope from the region is recognition of the role the global South plays in the church's future. Pope Francis, the 76-year-old Argentine who served as archbishop of Buenos Aires as Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, comes as both a surprise and a source of hope for Latin American Catholics.

Text of Pope Francis’ remarks from balcony after his election

Brothers and sisters, good evening. You know that the task of the conclave was to give Rome a bishop. It seems my brother cardinals went almost to the ends of the earth to find one.