Wednesday’s surprise announcement of the election of Pope Francis will be discussed for, well, decades and even centuries.

I was able to talk with four individuals within two hours of “Habemus Papam” being pronounced:

Father Robert Spitzer, S.J., former head of Gonzaga University and president of the Magis Center of Reason and Faith –the transcript is here;

Father C. John McCloskey, a priest of the prelature of Opus Dei and a research fellow at the Faith and Reason Institute –the transcript is here;

Rocco Palmo, a Catholic layman, journalist and prolific blogger at Whispers in the Loggia –the transcript is here; and

Dr. Albert Mohler, the president of the Southern Baptist Theological seminary –the transcript is here.

There was a lot of nonsense on television last night and it will continue today, mixed with some very astute observations. Start with what these four serious observers had to say before wading into the moutnain of commentary.

But be sure to check BigPulpit.com as well as it continues to assemble the best of the best commentary.

Two other posts of note: Beginning to Pray by Anthony Lilles and Bill Blankschaen’s thoughts at Patheos.com.

.