Parents at St. Pius X Catholic High School greeted the news of a new pope in Vatican City with excitement Wednesday afternoon, saying they were hopeful the selection of the first pontiff from Latin America may bring new perspective to the church.
Many had just learned of the election of Jorge Bergoglio, the 76-year-old Archbishop of Buenos Aires, as students streamed out of the school after classes ended.
Bill O'Donoghue, 54, a deacon at Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic Church in Brookhaven, said he was surprised the Catholic Church's leadership selected a leader from North or South America.
"That's never happened before," he said. "It was quite an amazing [selection] to me."
Bergoglio, now Pope Francis, replaces Pope Benedict XVI, who retired last month. Known in his native Argentina for his humble lifestyle, he travels by bus, visits with the poor and takes a decidedly Franciscan approach to his own life.
O'Donoghue said he hopes Francis surprises him in the same way Pope Benedict did. He said he expected Benedict to be a "hardline, very conservative" pope but didn't ultimately see his time as pontiff that way.
"You can't predict," he said. "The Holy Spirit will move them in ways that will surprise us regular Catholics. I'm hoping [Francis] will surprise us too."
Bergoglio is also known as a staunch conservative and devout Jesuit. He has protested progressive causes, including Argentina's decision to legalize gay marriage in 2010.
"By having somebody from somewhere other than [Europe], it's a chance and a hope for a new perspective," said Julie Skelton, a Tucker parent. "I think American Catholics are looking for that."
A parent from Decatur who declined to give her name agreed.
"That's significant," she said. "It's a good step toward bridging this church into the current century."
Maria Buzonas was picking up her child and also teaches at St. John Neumann Regional Catholic School in Lilburn where she said students were watching coverage of the news from Vatican City all day.
"I'm very excited," the 46-year-old from Lawrenceville said. "It shows the Catholic Church progressing. I'm also happy he's a pastor priest."
Buzonas said she hopes Pope Francis is a strong communicator who can reiterate and solidify what the church and the Catholic faith represents for Catholics worldwide.
"I want him to keep with tradition but with all the new technology be able to get that word out about what the Catholic Church is all about," she said.
See also:
Catholics at Saint Thomas More School Hopeful for New Pope
Atlanta Bishop Speaks About New Pope Francis I
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