Bronxville, Tuckahoe & Eastchester React to New Pope

People in Bronxville, Tuckahoe and Eastchester are reacting to Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio being chosen as the new pope. The process of picking a new pope has dominated much of the news cycle recently. People in Eastchester, Tuckahoe and Bronxville are really talking up a storm now that white smoke has risen from above the Sistine Chapel.

"Surprised. Very surprised that they picked one so quickly. They keep talking about it on the TV, I figured that this would be dragged out," said Rich Montano from Eastchester.

"As a catechist, it was thrilling to see the announcement of the new pope live from the Vatican during religion class today. I don't think our third grade class will ever forget it. We all said a prayer for our new Holy Father, Francis I," said Bronxville's Jane Ircha.

Some people in our area are already thinking about how the new pope, who has chosen the name Francis I, will be compared to those who came before him.

"It has been hard for Pope Benedict to follow up Pope John Paul II," said William Hart. "The new Pope will definitely be compared to Pope John Paul, not Benedict."

Some people we talked to were a bit disappointed that one of their favorites was not chosen.

"I've heard a lot of good things about the Cardinal from Boston. He's supposed to be very humble. That's the way Jesus was," said Sarah from Bronxville.

The new pope was picked at 3 p.m. by 115 voting cardinals. It took the cardinals two days to elect the new pope.

"I think Pope Benedict XVI did a good job reaching out to the Jewish people. I'd like to see more of that from the new pope," said Dan who lives in Yonkers, but has a Bronxville PO Box.

The new pope, Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Argentina, will the the 266th pontiff.