New Pope Francis Elected: Prospect Heights Reacts

As news spread that Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio of Argentina had been elected the  266th pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church, Catholics in Prospect Heights showed mixed reactions.  

Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, 76, is a Jesuit cardinal from Buenos Aires. The son of an Italian railway worker, he will go by the name Pope Francis. 

He replaces Benedict XV1, who last month announced that he would resign on the grounds that he was no longer physically able to carry out his job. 

The new pontiff was chosen via secret ballot following two days of voting.

Diego Ocasio, 75, who was born in Puerto Rico, was excited to have a pope elected from South America.

"I think it's a good choice because there's never been a pope from South America," he said. 

As for Gregory being 76, Ocasio said, "Nothing bad at all about that. He looks young and healthy. He's going to change everything."

But James Colasurdo, a 57-year-old psychologist, disagrees. 

"I really think the Catholic Church blew a historic opportunity to break with the past in a very real way," he said.

"I was hoping they would elect the cardinal from Ghana because not only is it representative of a break from the past, but this man accomplished a lot of very substantial things." he added.

For Colasurdo, the biggest issue is sexual abuse in the church. 

"That's the issue I want to see resolved—cleaned up by the Church. Electing another old man, all due respect, is going to do absolutely noting, it doesn't change the status quo—and it marks the church as a corporation, not followers of Christ." 

Virginia Medina, a 63-year-old baby nurse said he was just happy that the decision has been made.

"I was disappointed last night when they didn't make a decision," she said.

Although she is originally from Venezuela, she said it's not important to her that the new pope is from South America.  

"I'm an old fashioned Catholic. It doesn't matter. Wherever he is from, I'm very happy," she said. 

Others withheld judgement. Shirley Boodoo, a retired hospital worker originally from the West Indies said she would withhold judgement.

"It depends on what he will do," she said.