Many prayers for Jorge Mario Bergoglio who has been elected Pope. He has taken the name Francis and in honor of that name I offer the prayer of St. Francis on his behalf. May this prayer be true of Francis I and all Christians.

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace,

Where there is hatred, let me sow love;

Where there is injury, pardon;

Where there is doubt, faith;

Where there is despair, hope;

Where there is darkness, light;

Where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled, as to console;

To be understood, as to understand;

To be loved, as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive.

It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,

And it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life.

Amen.

I have been watching the resignation of Benedict XVI and the conclave with great interest and hope. As the leader of the largest clan in the Christian family, the Pope has a great opportunity to represent Christ to the whole world. I am excited to see what the first Latin American pope does. Also, considering I’ve been exploring Ignatian spirituality the past few years, I think it’s pretty cool to have a Jesuit as the Bishop of Rome.