“The people of God of the Diocese of Camden proclaim a loud ‘Allelulia’ upon the news that Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, until now the Cardinal Archbishop of Buenos Aires, has been elected as the Bishop of Rome, the Successor of St. Peter the Apostle. Habemus Papam (‘We have a Pope!’). It is indeed Good News which brings great joy to the Church.
Thanks be to God! Catholics around the world and in South Jersey, as well as those of all faiths, rejoice at this historic occasion.
Our new Holy Father has chosen the name of Francis. Pope Francis will bring to his ministry as Pastor of the Universal Church his years of experience as priest and bishop to the church in Argentina.
The priests, deacons, men and women religious and the faithful of the Diocese of Camden pledge to our new Holy Father the support of our prayers and our full cooperation.”