Congress unites around Pope Francis

• Lawmakers react to election of new pope on Twitter
• Congress shares joy with Catholics around the world
• New pope is first from Argentina

WASHINGTON — For one day at least, the election of a new pope has brought together members of Congress regardless of party or religion.

Their good wishes about Pope Francis — the former Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, archbishop of Buenos Aires — spilled out on Capitol Hill via news releases and Twitter feeds. Some House Republicans heard about the new pope from President Obama, who announced the news during their closed-door meeting on Capitol Hill, according to Rep. Michael Grimm, R-N.Y.

The election of a pontiff with so many historic firsts to his credit even raised the possibility that the fractious Congress might learn a thing or two from the Vatican conclave as it deals with the federal budget.

"I'm looking for a little white smoke out of the Capitol here by the end of the summer," said Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, as he emerged from a Senate Budget Committee hearing.

Sen. Angus King of Maine, an independent, joked that the Vatican might become a model for Congress to get its work done — by locking lawmakers in a room "with 500-year-old plumbing" and not letting anyone leave until a decision is made.

At a news conference, House Speaker John Boehner — the highest ranking Catholic in Congress — offered his congratulations to the first pontiff from South America. "I'm happy that they were able to come to a choice as quickly as they did," said Boehner, R-Ohio. "I think that reaching out beyond the traditional continent of our church is another big step in the right direction of our church."

Boehner later said in a statement that he was inspired that the new pope is named Francis for "the saint who lived a simple life of humility and charity" and who set "an example for how to make God's love visible to all, especially those in despair or pain."

Rep. Tim Ryan, D-Ohio, who is Catholic, said on Twitter that he is hopeful Pope Francis "guides the Catholic Church in a direction underscored by greater inclusion and equality in the world."

Another Catholic, GOP Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida, essentially live-tweeted the announcement to his 353,521 followers once the white smoke was seen at the Vatican. He began with the Latin phrase "habemus papam," which signals the election of a new pope.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said Americans offer to Pope Francis good wishes of "health, happiness and strength in facing up to the responsibilities and the burdens of his office."

On his Twitter feed, Sen. Charles Schumer of New York said he is "hopeful that Pope Francis will help foster peace and spirituality across the globe." Schumer, the No. 3 Democratic leader, is Jewish.

Bergoglio is the first pope from Argentina, which sparked at least one reference to a scandal by an American politician. Scott English, former chief of staff to ex-South Carolina governor Mark Sanford, tweeted, "See, nobody complains when the College of Cardinals goes to Argentina."

That is an indirect reference to Sanford's extramarital affair with an Argentine journalist, who is the fiancée of the congressional candidate.

(Contributing: Alan Gomez, Jackie Kucinich)