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Georgetown University Celebrates Election of First Jesuit Pope

Georgetown, the nation's first Catholic and Jesuit university, is celebrating the election of the first Jesuit pontiff, Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, S.J., of Buenos Aires, who will be known as Pope Francis.

“We received the news of Pope Francis’ election with great joy made all the deeper because he is the first Jesuit pope and first pope from South America,” said Rev. Kevin O’Brien, S.J., Georgetown’s vice president of mission and ministry. “We pray for him and our church.”

Francis I, the first pope to be known by that name, was elected after only two days and five rounds of voting during the conclave convened by the College of Cardinals in the Sistine Chapel of St. Peter’s Basilica.

University President John J. DeGioia issued this statement:

“On this joyous day, we offer our prayers of thanksgiving and celebration for the new Holy Father, Pope Francis.

"This is an historic moment for our Church and for our community that the first Jesuit and the first Cardinal from the Americas has become Pope, the leader of our global community of believers.

"Our work at Georgetown is informed by the spirituality of St. Ignatius Loyola, the founder of the Jesuit order. This very same tradition played an essential role in the formation of our new Pope, and we have seen it expressed in his preference and care for the poor, his vow of poverty, and his ministry as Archbishop of Buenos Aires. We are grateful to share this spiritual affinity with our new Pontiff.”

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