This past Wednesday, the long awaited white puff of smoke rose from the Sistine Chapel, signifying the selection of the 266th Pope, Jorge Mario Bergoglio, now known as Pope Francis. Francis was born to Italian immigrant parents and was raised in the Argentinian capital, Buenos Aires, where he has served as the archbishop. What do you think of Francis' appointment? What do you hope to see from the new leader of the Catholic faith?

Reverend Walter Cuenin

I think the fact that this is the first Pope from South America has deep significance for the Catholic Church globally. It is very important for American Catholics as we are about 40 percent Hispanic presently. I love that he took the name of Francis, a saint dedicated to the poor. I also am pleased that he is a Jesuit with their history of involvement in higher education and that he is a scientist.

Rev. Cuenin is the Catholic chaplain and coordinator of the Interfaith Chaplaincy at Brandeis.

Mathew Kuruvinakunnel '15

One can always wonder about the politics behind Jorge Mario Bergoglio's election to the Papacy. But perhaps asking why he was elected is less important now than asking what he can (and is willing to) do? Above the mire of speculation, the Catholic Church's selection of Pope Francis is also the selection of his stance on numerous contemporary issues- austerity, economic equality, openness to interfaith dialogue and perhaps most controversially, opposition to homosexuality but respect for homosexuals-and I think this is a good representation of what the Catholic Church is willing to do today.

Mathew Kuruvinakunnel '15 is a Politics major with a focus in International Relations.

Prof. Maura Jane Farrelly (AMST)

As someone who was educated by Jesuits -and takes the idea that the purpose of a Jesuit education is "to create men and women for others" quite seriously-I was delighted to learn that Francis is a member of the Society of Jesus. The Jesuits were actually suppressed by the pope in 1773, in part because the work they were doing with the indigenous poor in South America did not mesh with the exploitative agendas of the Spanish and Portuguese monarchs who had colonies there. Make no mistake: Francis told us something when he chose to take the name of one of the greatest advocates for the poor the Church has ever had (Francis of Assisi). I have high hopes that this pope will be a man who is "in the world," so to speak, getting his hands dirty as he works to combat the effects of the global polarization of wealth.

Prof. Maura Jane Farrelly is the director of the Journalism Program and an Assistant Professor of American Studies.

Genevi??ve Zucchetto de Oliveira '15

Having a Latino pope for the very first time in history represents a huge achievement for Catholics in Latin America, as the region is home for 40 percent of all baptized Catholics. Even though the choosing of a new pope is a time of happiness for the Catholic community, there is significant controversy surrounding Pope Francis. Unfortunately, even though his Jesuit background and nationality are unique to his Papacy, his views on controversial issues such as abortion and gay marriage remain the same as his predecessors. Hopefully, with time, his policies will reflect the changing mentality of many Catholics across the world and engage the Church in healthy dialogue. As a Catholic woman, I would like to see more gender equality in the Catholic Church, allowing anyone that wishes to take on important roles, despite their gender. Moreover, hopefully Pope Francis will create an environment of transparency and fairness, allowing us Catholics to remain proud of our church and its leadership.

Genevi??ve Zucchetto de Oliveira '15 is an International and Global Studies major and a citizen of Brazil.