A New Pontiff: Local Catholics Welcome Pope Francis, First Latino Pope

There was white smoke over the Vatican Wednesday as the Catholic Church elected its new leader. Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, once Archbishop of Buenos Aires, took the name Pope Francis the first.

Francis is the first Pope from the Americas and the first Jesuit Pontiff.

Catholics all across the globe are ecstatic about the election of Pope Francis, the first Latin American Pope. Among those looking forward to what’s ahead, local Latinos. NBC5’s Laura Cavanaugh reports.