Fayetteville and Fort Bragg Catholics Excited About Pope Francis

The evening announcement of Buenos Aires Archbishop Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio as the new Pope in Vatican City is resonating with Catholics here at Fort Bragg.

Facebook posts in favor of the newly elected Pope started flowing on Wednesday afternoon.

Anne Garde, longtime Fort Bragg military spouse said she looks forward to seeing where he will take the church to and squash petty controversy. Garde belongs to a Fort Bragg based Catholic Moms group that is 200 strong in members.

Longtime Fayetteville resident, Julie Harrison feels the new Pope will be well received.

"Well he's from Argentina and with such a large percentage of Catholics being Spanish, he will be widely revered in the Hispanic community," Harrison said. "I know he was not who the press were expecting, we heard very little about him before today. I know he is considered a very humble man of the people much like John Paul was. John Paul loved children and that's one of the things I loved about him! I still had hoped for a younger Pope, I know 76 is not ancient in this day and age, but I was praying for someone younger to guide the young. We are losing so many young people who don't want to deal with the financial aspect, the homosexual difficulties,the press, all the stuff that just gets in the way of the Holy Spirit working!"

The new Pope Francis, age 76, is the first Latin American and Jesuit Pope, according to ABC News.

A few facts about Pope Francis adapted from The Guardian news report.

• He is the first non-European pope in the modern era.

• He claims that adoption by homosexuals is a form of discrimination against children but believes that condoms "can be permissible" to prevent infection.

• In 2001 he washed and kissed the feet of Aids patients in a hospice.

Read the remaining 10 facts here.