Tulsa Catholics React To Announcement Of New Pope

The reaction in St. Peter's Square in Rome was deafening celebration and it was no different in the states, especially at Tulsa's St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church.

The majority of the congregation is Hispanic, and they're still in shock a Latin American was chosen as pope.

The turnout for mass was bigger than usual Wednesday at St. Francis Xavier, because the news is greater than they could have imagined.

"It was a big surprise," said Maria Ines Alcaraz, who is from Argentina, but is living in Tulsa.

3/13/2013 Related Story: Bishop Kelley Students Watch, Cheer On Naming Of New Pope

She said she believes the pontiff can restore faith in the Latin Americans who have lost theirs, because they now have someone with whom they can identify.

"Our culture, our traditions. I know he will understand, because he knows the reality of Latin America," Alcaraz said.

Father David Medina was shocked when an Argentinian was chosen to the lead the Catholic faithful.

"I cried. I cried, because I was thinking about the Latinos here in the United States," Medina said.

Medina said he's seen a sad trend he hopes the pope can reverse. Most Latinos are raised as Catholics in their home countries, but Medina said many leave the church when they come to America.

"In Latin America, we live faith in a different way than in Europe. We go to the streets and show our faith," Medina said.

According to the Vatican, the pope chose the name Francis in honor of St. Francis of Assisi, a lover of the poor.

He's already earned a reputation for living the simple life, living in a small apartment where he cooked his own meals instead of the archbishop house in Buenos Aires.

"Humility, a very simple man, a very simple religious leader, will bring the hope to Latinos in the way that once again, Christ is in our midst," Medina said.

This congregation knows Pope Francis I is receiving a church with many challenges, but they say they are ready to help him bring about change.

Many Catholics have said they were most impressed with Pope Francis I when he first addressed the faithful Wednesday, asking for the people's blessing and prayers before he blessed them.