Jorge Bergoglio is the new head of the Roman Catholic Church and has chosen the name Pope Francis. With the Pope Francis being from Argentina, many Hispanic Catholics are celebrating.
FOX News Radio's Eben Brown reports from Miami:
A Pope is supposed to be Pope to all Catholics, though Francis' fellow Latin American Catholics are smiling a bit wider. Archbishop Thomas Wenski heads the Archdiocese of Miami...
(Wenski) "But it's a great day for the people here in south Florida because Miami is, in many ways, the capital of Latin America. And so, you know, we're sending one of our own, you can say, to Rome."
Wenski adds Francis' election in many ways is a recognition by that Latin America is playing a larger role in the Church's worldwide presence.
In Miami, Eben Brown, FOX News Radio.
In New York, there was applause and celebration in the normally solemn aisles of St. Patrick's as the new Pope was announced.
FOX News Radio's Courtney Kealy reports from St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York City:
(Crowd) "Argentina, Argentina..."
A festival feel as visitors from Buenos Aires mingled among the crowd cheer for Pope Francis one of their own from Argentina, the first pope from the Americas, as they glimpsed his first appearance via a satellite hook up on television especially set up for the occasion.
Luciano was among the jubilant crowd of Argentinean tourists.
(Luciano) "We was thinking about an Italian, but nobody expected an Argentinian was gonna be the new Pope, so we are happy about that."
Others marked the moment more solemnly, kneeling in the pews and bowing their head in prayer.
In New York, Courtney Kealy, FOX News Radio.
Catholics in the Midwest are reacting to news of the man they call "Papa".
FOX News Radio's Jennifer Keiper reports:
Bishop Martin Amos from the Diocese of Davenport, Iowa and Bishop James Conley of Lincoln, Nebraska have welcomed newly elected Pope Francis.
Cleveland Bishop Richard Lennon calls this is a time of many firsts...
(Lennon) "The first that someone from the western hemisphere, the first from North or South or Central America and also the first Jesuit who has been chosen to be our Holy Father."
Colin Maloney at St. Ignatius High School in the Cleveland area says...
(Maloney) "I think it's great. I think the Jesuits are awesome people. I go to a Jesuit high school, obviously, so I'm excited to see our ideals and techniques spread throughout the entire Catholic Church."
Detroit's Archbishop Allen Vigneron says he's thanking Christ for this grace.
Jennifer Keiper, FOX News Radio.
READ a statement from President Obama on the election of Pope Francis:
"On behalf of the American people, Michelle and I offer our warm wishes to His Holiness Pope Francis as he ascends to the Chair of Saint Peter and begins his papacy. As a champion of the poor and the most vulnerable among us, he carries forth the message of love and compassion that has inspired the world for more than two thousand years-that in each other we see the face of God. As the first pope from the Americas, his selection also speaks to the strength and vitality of a region that is increasingly shaping our world, and alongside millions of Hispanic Americans, those of us in the United States share the joy of this historic day. Just as I appreciated our work with Pope Benedict XVI, I look forward to working with His Holiness to advance peace, security and dignity for our fellow human beings, regardless of their faith. We join with people around the world in offering our prayers for the Holy Father as he begins the sacred work of leading the Catholic Church in our modern world."
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