"We have a Pope!"

With those simple words, over a billion faithful of the Catholic church have a new leader.  Arch Bishop of Argentina, Jorge Bergoglio, is now Pope Francis.

By all accounts, Francis is the antithesis of modern day Popes.  He is the first non-European Pope in a thousand years, he has taken a name of a beloved Saint which has never been used before, his humility is legend and he is a Jesuit.  There is no doubt the Cardinals were determined to send a message that the Church was going to be led by a reformer, a non-insider and a man who is literally for the people first.  He will have a daunting challenge.  The travails of the Church are well documented.  There is a tremendous amount of expectation that the Church will shirk the impression that it's the ultimate closed society and that the traditional leadership change will restore the faith of the already faithful.  A recent statement from a TV pundit said, "This is a new day for the Catholic Church."  Yes, indeed it is and our prayers go to him as he answers this greatest of calling.