The Los Angeles Times reported that the Vatican tweeted the big news within minutes of Francis’ balcony appearance.

Read a March 13, 2013, New York Times article on the breaking-news account of Pope Francis’ election.

The World Jewish Congress is the international organization that represents Jewish communities and organizations in 100 countries around the world. It advocates on their behalf towards governments, parliaments, international organizations and other faiths.  

The World Union for Progressive Judaism is the international umbrella organization of the Reform, Liberal, Progressive and Reconstructionist movements, serving 1,200 congregations with 1.8 million members in more than 45 countries.

A March 8, 2012, Religion News Service article describes a study from the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life that found that Jews are the world’s most migratory group.

Read a Dec. 8, 2012, San Antonio Express-News story about the influence that evangelicals could have on Republican lawmakers’ immigration positions.

A December 2012 Las Posadas procession in Salt Lake City incorporated the reading of a multifaith statement backing immigration reform. Plans for the event were detailed on The Salt Lake Tribune’s Following Faith blog.

Read a Jan. 3, 2013, column at jweekly.com urging Jewish support for “just and compassionate” immigration reform. The author is Eric D. Horodas, outgoing board chair for the Anti-Defamation League’s Central Pacific Region.

Read a Jan. 3, 2013, column in The Jewish Daily Forward that gives a Jewish conservative’s perspective on the debate.