Historic, Historic, Historic

This is the sixth time in our lives that we’ve followed the events in Rome as the Cardinals gathered to elect a new pontiff. This time has been historic in many ways. It’s the first time in more than five hundred years that a pope has been elected while his predecessor still lives. It’s the first time in more than a thousand years that the pope was from somewhere other than Europe. And it’s the first time a Jesuit has been elected pope. We pray that Pope Francis I, with his humility and his warm smile, has the grace to lead our church.