All Eyes on New Pope at St. Anthony School in Renton

The students at St. Anthony School in Renton were, like much of the world, on watch for the white smoke to come out of the Sistine Chapel on Wednesday.

“When that happened, the buzz went around the school very quickly,” said Principal Robert Gallagher. All of the classrooms put on their projectors to watch the live coverage of the naming of the new Pope in Rome.

Gallagher was leading a tour of visitors from Haiti and was in a class of third-graders when the announcement was made: Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, 76, the son of an Italian railway worker, would be the first Jesuit and first South American pontiff.

The Cardinal from Argentina has taken the name Francis, another first.

“The students just erupted screaming and celebrating,” said Gallagher, who heads up the K-8 school of about 500 students.

What do you think of the new Pope's election? Tell us in the comments.

The London Guardian and National Catholic Reporter described Bergoglio as a Jesuit intellectual who travels by bus, cooks his own meals and lives simply. After being appointed cardinal in 2001, "Bergoglio persuaded hundreds of Argentinians not to fly to Rome to celebrate with him but instead to give the money they would have spent on plane tickets to the poor," the Guardian said.

Gallagher said the humility in the Pope’s speech, “I think sets the tone.”

“The students saw the reverence in his speech,” he said. “After they cheered and celebrated … they were all then attentively listening. You could just see on their faces."

“For me, it’s a chance for renewing our faith, and setting a new course for our Church, and to heal the old wounds and turn the page onto a new and brighter day,” Gallagher said.

Bergoglio originally planned to be a chemist, but began studying for the priesthood in 1958, according to the National Catholic Reporter.

In addition to his advocacy for the poor, Bergoglio believes in contraception to prevent the spread of disease, faces no questions over abuse scandals and would reform the Vatican Curia, according to the Guardian. He also strongly opposed Argentina's decision to legalize gay marriage, saying children should be raised by a father and a mother.

Shortly after he addressed the crowd at St. Peter's Square, the Vatican issued a tweet via its papal Twitter account. It said in Latin, "HABEMUS PAPAM FRANCISCUM," which translates roughly as "We have Pope Francis," according to the Los Angeles Times.

Renton resident and St. Anthony parishioner Richard Bray wrote in a note to Patch:

As a Catholic lay person I am thrilled with the announcement of the new pope: Pope Francis I. It was humbling to watch him take in the immense crowd as he stepped out on the balcony in Rome to be presented to the world. I was impressed that he asked the vast crowd of people gathered in St. Peter's Square in Rome and those watching worldwide to bless him first before he gave his Apostolic Blessing to the world.

I am excited that he has taken the name of Francis. St. Francis of Assisi lived a very simple life of service to the poor and the truths of the Gospel. I encourage everyone to learn more about the life of St. Francis of Assisi to begin to understand the significance of the new pope's name. The Catholic Church and our world are going through times of great turmoil. But there is hope: we have a new Pope!

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