The Catholic Sun

Television screens and radios weren’t guaranteed to be the first to tell the Catholic world it had a new pope March 13. The second conclave in the third millennium was the first that social media played a large role. So much so that a seagull who came to rest on the smokestack atop the Sistine Chapel prior to the puff of white smoke March 13 temporarily had two Twitter accounts to its name,

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Francis' episcopal motto is based on the Gospel account of "The Call of St. Matthew," the tax collector, in a homily given by St. Bede the Venerable.

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Never give in to the devil's pessimism, discouragement and bitterness, Pope Francis said; Christians need to share the Gospel message with joy and courage because it will truly answer people's deepest needs.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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.