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| US Latinos rejoice at election of Pope Francis, the pontiff from the new world | US Latinos rejoice at election of Pope Francis, the pontiff from the new world |
| (8 days later) | |
| Hispanics in the US greeted the first full day of Pope Francis's reign as the start of a new chapter for them and the church in the Americas. | Hispanics in the US greeted the first full day of Pope Francis's reign as the start of a new chapter for them and the church in the Americas. |
| The shock of having a church led by a Latino sunk in as they awoke to headlines proclaiming "A new world Pope", prompting marvel and hope it could turn the page on a fraught period for the US church. | The shock of having a church led by a Latino sunk in as they awoke to headlines proclaiming "A new world Pope", prompting marvel and hope it could turn the page on a fraught period for the US church. |
| "This is great news, really great. It recognises that we're a huge part of the church. And maybe [Pope Francis] will be able to move us on from all the scandals. We needed this," Daniela Perez, 39, a web designer in Los Angeles, said on Thursday. | "This is great news, really great. It recognises that we're a huge part of the church. And maybe [Pope Francis] will be able to move us on from all the scandals. We needed this," Daniela Perez, 39, a web designer in Los Angeles, said on Thursday. |
| A day earlier, Latinos in southern California and Florida rejoiced when white smoke at the Vatican was followed by the announcement that Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Argentina had been chosen as the 266th pope. | A day earlier, Latinos in southern California and Florida rejoiced when white smoke at the Vatican was followed by the announcement that Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Argentina had been chosen as the 266th pope. |
| Los Angeles, the biggest US archdiocese and 70% Latino, heard the news around lunchtime, sending a frisson around neighbourhoods with Virgin Mary statues on the porches and signs saying "Este hogar es Catolico", or "this home is Catholic". | Los Angeles, the biggest US archdiocese and 70% Latino, heard the news around lunchtime, sending a frisson around neighbourhoods with Virgin Mary statues on the porches and signs saying "Este hogar es Catolico", or "this home is Catholic". |
| Archbishop Jose Gomez was celebrating mass at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels when the new pope's name was revealed. "It's the first time in the history of the church that the pope comes from the American continent, so that really shows the importance of all of us in this continent as a part of the church," he told worshippers. "It is indeed a time of joy and thanksgiving." | Archbishop Jose Gomez was celebrating mass at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels when the new pope's name was revealed. "It's the first time in the history of the church that the pope comes from the American continent, so that really shows the importance of all of us in this continent as a part of the church," he told worshippers. "It is indeed a time of joy and thanksgiving." |
| Father Allan Figueroa Deck, a Latin American specialist at Loyola Marymount University, told the Los Angeles Times the news was a long time coming. "The seeds of Christianity that were planted 500 years ago in the Americas are finally manifesting themselves in the leadership of the church at the highest level." | Father Allan Figueroa Deck, a Latin American specialist at Loyola Marymount University, told the Los Angeles Times the news was a long time coming. "The seeds of Christianity that were planted 500 years ago in the Americas are finally manifesting themselves in the leadership of the church at the highest level." |
| In greeting thousands of faithful outside St Peter's Basilica, the new pope alluded to his new world origins. "As you know, the duty of the conclave was to appoint a bishop of Rome. It seems to me that my brother cardinals have chosen one who is from far away, but here I am." | In greeting thousands of faithful outside St Peter's Basilica, the new pope alluded to his new world origins. "As you know, the duty of the conclave was to appoint a bishop of Rome. It seems to me that my brother cardinals have chosen one who is from far away, but here I am." |
| Latinos account for about 40% of the church's 1.2bn members worldwide, and a fast-growing proportion of the 74m Catholics in the US. | Latinos account for about 40% of the church's 1.2bn members worldwide, and a fast-growing proportion of the 74m Catholics in the US. |
| In Miami, Archbishop Thomas Wenski said the chosen successor to Pope Benedict, who stepped down, had prompted a "great day of rejoicing here in the new world, for Pope Francis is an American". Benedict was German and John Paul II was Polish, part of a long, unbroken line of Europeans. | In Miami, Archbishop Thomas Wenski said the chosen successor to Pope Benedict, who stepped down, had prompted a "great day of rejoicing here in the new world, for Pope Francis is an American". Benedict was German and John Paul II was Polish, part of a long, unbroken line of Europeans. |
| Wenski added: "As Blessed John Paul II repeatedly told us: America is one, not north and south. And Latin America, with the world's largest number of Catholics, is, as Pope Benedict reminded us, a continent of hope." | Wenski added: "As Blessed John Paul II repeatedly told us: America is one, not north and south. And Latin America, with the world's largest number of Catholics, is, as Pope Benedict reminded us, a continent of hope." |
| Both previous popes spoke Spanish, and John Paul II was a regular visitor to Latin America, drawing huge crowds, but analysts said having a pontiff who spoke Spanish as a mother tongue would resonate with Hispanics. | Both previous popes spoke Spanish, and John Paul II was a regular visitor to Latin America, drawing huge crowds, but analysts said having a pontiff who spoke Spanish as a mother tongue would resonate with Hispanics. |
| Over the past century the church has lost about half its membership in Europe, prompting angst and greater reliance on Latinos for numbers, energy and optimism. However, in the US, Latinos, like other Catholics, have been shaken by clerical sex abuse scandals and cover-ups. | Over the past century the church has lost about half its membership in Europe, prompting angst and greater reliance on Latinos for numbers, energy and optimism. However, in the US, Latinos, like other Catholics, have been shaken by clerical sex abuse scandals and cover-ups. |
| This week the archdiocese of Los Angeles settled two child abuse cases as part of a $10m out-of-court deal for victims of a now-defrocked priest, Michael Baker. Cardinal Roger Mahoney, who was at the conclave in Rome, was rebuked by his successor, Archbishop Gomez, in February after revelations that he shielded abusive priests. | This week the archdiocese of Los Angeles settled two child abuse cases as part of a $10m out-of-court deal for victims of a now-defrocked priest, Michael Baker. Cardinal Roger Mahoney, who was at the conclave in Rome, was rebuked by his successor, Archbishop Gomez, in February after revelations that he shielded abusive priests. |
| Despite the jubilation, it remains an open question of whether Francis will be able to undo the damage and to fight a secular tide, which distances second- and third-generation Latinos in the US from the church. Liberal Latinos will bristle at his opposition to gay marriage. | Despite the jubilation, it remains an open question of whether Francis will be able to undo the damage and to fight a secular tide, which distances second- and third-generation Latinos in the US from the church. Liberal Latinos will bristle at his opposition to gay marriage. |
| The new Pope is 76, two decades older than John Paul II when his election electrified eastern Europe, and Mexicans and central Americans don't necessarily feel much affinity with Argentina, Francis's home country. | The new Pope is 76, two decades older than John Paul II when his election electrified eastern Europe, and Mexicans and central Americans don't necessarily feel much affinity with Argentina, Francis's home country. |
| If Francis does reinvigorate Catholic Latinos, it may owe more to his reputation for humility and approachability than his roots. "He takes the bus, just like anyone else. Imagine!" said Perez, a web designer. | If Francis does reinvigorate Catholic Latinos, it may owe more to his reputation for humility and approachability than his roots. "He takes the bus, just like anyone else. Imagine!" said Perez, a web designer. |
| Big challenges confront the pope in Latin America, not least expanding Protestant and pentecostal churches, which have won millions of Catholic converts. From 90% of the population a few decades ago, Catholics now account for about 70%. | Big challenges confront the pope in Latin America, not least expanding Protestant and pentecostal churches, which have won millions of Catholic converts. From 90% of the population a few decades ago, Catholics now account for about 70%. |
| Despite his critiques of capitalism and social inequality, the pope may find that leftwing governments give him another dilemma. As an archbishop in Buenos Aires, he often clashed with presidents Nestor Kirchner and his wife Cristina Fernandez over gay marriage, contraception, corruption and political polarisation. Nestor accused him of being an opposition spokesman. Others charge that he did not do enough to protect innocents during Argentina's "dirty war". | Despite his critiques of capitalism and social inequality, the pope may find that leftwing governments give him another dilemma. As an archbishop in Buenos Aires, he often clashed with presidents Nestor Kirchner and his wife Cristina Fernandez over gay marriage, contraception, corruption and political polarisation. Nestor accused him of being an opposition spokesman. Others charge that he did not do enough to protect innocents during Argentina's "dirty war". |
| Nicolas Maduro, Venezuela's president, joked that Hugo Chavez had interceded in heaven to secure a latino pontiff but goodwill may evaporate if Francis gets tugged into the Venezuelan church's tense relationship with the government. | Nicolas Maduro, Venezuela's president, joked that Hugo Chavez had interceded in heaven to secure a latino pontiff but goodwill may evaporate if Francis gets tugged into the Venezuelan church's tense relationship with the government. |
| Francis may not turn out to be a political activist like John Paul II but may stir things up by calling "the bluff of populist leaders who create a climate of political polarization", predicted the Miami Herald's columnist Andres Oppenheimer. | Francis may not turn out to be a political activist like John Paul II but may stir things up by calling "the bluff of populist leaders who create a climate of political polarization", predicted the Miami Herald's columnist Andres Oppenheimer. |
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