New Pope Francis I Elected: Catholic Priests in Smithfield React

White smoke rose from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel Wednesday, signaling the election of Argentine Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio as Pope, taking the name Francis. 

Cheers rang out from the crowd gathered at Vatican City and the buzz spread as quickly as the by-the-second news cycle could carry it. In Smithfield, priests took the news of the reportedly humble priest's selection and his apparently modest demeanor as a sign of hope.

Francis is reportedly the Jesuit pope, the first South American pope and also the first pope to (possibly) take his name after St. Francis of Assisi.

"Thank God for our new holy father and may God bless him," replied a spokesperson from the office of St. Michael's Church in Georgiaville.

Francis I is the elected successor of Benedict XVI, who made the unprecedented decision to resign the papacy. Benedict officially stepped down Feb. 28, becoming the first pontiff to resign in nearly 598 years.

At St. Phillip Church in Greenville, Fr. Albert Marcello was listening to Candian Public Radio on his computer and monitoring WCVB on his television for word on the new Pope Wednesday. 

When it came, Marcello needed a little while to form an opinion. "I had heard his name, but I didn't know much about him," Marcello said. But after seeing him address the public Wednesday, "I think Pope Francis is a man of deep humility and a man of purposfulness," he said.

Pope Francis is now charged with leading the Church in the face of many challenges, including the lingering sex abuse scandal. Marcello said he had faith in Francis's leadership.

The Greenville priest said having someone like Francis named Pope was a good sign. "We know that Christ has not abandoned his people," Marcello said.