Wisconsin’s Catholic Leaders Pleased With New Pope

The new pope is generating excitement amongst Catholic leaders in northern Wisconsin.

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.

“We’re excited on a couple of levels. Because of his pastoral experience, he is known as a man of the people. He takes the subway to work, for crying out loud. [He] makes his own food and lives for serving…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. And there are so many Catholics in central and South America who are right now rejoicing that someone who understands their background, 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, would first of all be an example of what it is like to be Christ-like, to be Christian, and also to be a person who can promote those values of God’s commandments and the beatitudes as Jesus spoke of to the world and especially the world leaders.”

Christensen is surprised they picked an older pope, but says with age comes wisdom.