The new pope is generating excitement in Catholic leaders in northern Wisconsin. Jessica Hamilton reports.

Superior’s Cathedral of the King Father Andrew Ricci says he is delighted with the choice of the Pope Francis…the first pope chosen from outside of Europe.

“You know the Catholic Church is a global church and to have someone with his experience and wisdom shepherding us is a great gift. We’re excited, I think, too on a couple of levels. Because of his pastoral experience he is known as a man of the people. He takes the subways to work for crying out loud, makes his own food and lives for serving those, especially those who are on the margins, people who are facing poverty and economic struggles and also educational issues.”

Ricci is also excited that Pope Francis is from South America, the first in the history of the Catholic Church not from Europe.

“This is Argentina; this is the first time that we’ve had somebody off the continent of Europe who is speaking to us at that level, certainly in the last several hundred years. And there are so many Catholics in central and South America who are right now rejoicing that someone who understands their back ground, their cultures, and their history is now speaking, on their behalf, for the church as a whole.”

Superior Diocese Bishop Peter Christensen says this Pope will offer humility as well as be a peace maker.

“In thinking about what I hope a new pope would be able to do, first of all be an example of what it is like to be Christ like, be Christian and also to be a person who can promote those values of God’s commandments and the attitudes as Jesus spoke of to the world and especially the world leaders. I think that the fact that he chose the name St. Francis is really telling too.”

Christensen is surprised they picked an older Pope…but says with age comes wisdom.

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