Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio has taken the name Francis after becoming the first Jesuit and first Latin American pontiff.

Holy Family University's director of campus ministry Father James MacNew told Patch that the choice of Pope Francis is an "uplifting sacred surprise."

"Let us rejoice! Pope Francis is another one of the uplifting sacred surprises of the Holy Spirit!" Fr. MacNew said. "A learned Jesuit from Argentina, who is famous for 'riding the bus among the people,' in taking the name 'Francis,' the new Holy Father points toward the particularly Franciscan virtues of humility, simplicity, courage in living out the Gospel amid the challenges of the real world, love of holy poverty and, of course, Franciscan joy!" 

MacNew said that the new pope is a model of warm, embracing love coupled with an evident holy boldness that is necessary for the new evangelization. He added that his asking for everyone in St. Peter's Square to pray for him shows great humility.

"Before he offered his first blessing as our new Holy Father to us, he asked US, all in St. Peter's Square and all watching and listening around the world, to pray a prayer of blessing over HIM!" he said. "Thus began, in a demonstration of profound and all-embracing humility, the Pontificate of our new Vicar of Christ, Pope Francis!"

To celebrate the new pope, a special mass will be held at Holy Family University Wednesday.

"We will gather as a campus community this evening, Wednesday, March 13, to pray for our new Holy Father, Pope Francis at 9:30 in the Campus Center Chapel," Macnew said. "We expect to gather there and then perhaps move down the hall to the commons or the upper lobby in the same Campus Center building if our attendance requires a larger venue than the campus chapel itself." 

About an hour after the white smoke signaled the selection of a new pope at St. Peter's Basilica, Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran announced 76-year-old Argentinian cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio as the 266th pope. Pope Francis was chosen on the second day of conclave and succeeds Pope Benedict XVI, who announced his resignation in February.