Verona, PA - Former Republican presidential candidate and chairman of Patriot Voices Rick Santorum issued the following statement upon learning of the selection of the 266th Pope: 

"Habemus Papam!  We have a Pope!  Karen and I share our excitement over the selection of  Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio as the new Pope.  We stand with open hearts to embrace our new spiritual father, the successor of St. Peter, and pray for the Church and its faithful around the world. 

"And as I watched today's events unfold and the white smoke rise from the chimney of the Vatican, I couldn't help but be struck by such an awesome celebration of faith in the public square."