by Elizabeth Ruiz(photos by Deacon Pat Rodgers)
In his first words after being elected Pope, Jose Mario Bergoglio of Argentina asked for prayers, and hundreds of area Catholics packed San Fernando Cathedral Wednesday night to do just that.
Archbishop Gustavo Garcia-Siller celebrated a special Mass of Thanksgiving and prayer for Pope Francis, a man he met in Rome.
"He was very solid, very kind, very humble," Siller told reporters before the Mass.
The Archbishop said he was impressed by Bergoglio's passion for helping the impoverished.
"He is connected with the poor, with the people who have been most affected in this world. It's a plus for his leadership," said Siller.
As a Cardinal in Buenos Aires, Bergoglio would ride the bus to work and visit slums on a regular basis.
"Que Viva el Papa. Long live the Pope," shouted Siller as the congoregation erupted in thunderous applause.
Cathy Boyd was grateful for the Mass.
"It was incredibly important for the people of San Antonio to come together and pray immediately for the mission of our Pope," said Boyd. "This is wonderful news . It's exciting for the faithful of the Catholic church,but also for people who are seeking God."
She and others gathered outside San Fernando to discuss the election of the Pope who has chosen the name Francis.
One man told 550 KTSA News, "I'm very excited about the new Pope. I think he's someone who's really going to make people feel connected to the church."
The seventy-six-year-old pontiff is the first Latin American and the first Jesuit priest elected Pope. Like most people closely following the developments at the Vatican, Bergoglio's election caught the Archbishop by surprise.
"His name was not coming up in the conversations that we had in the last few days," said Siller.
A man talking with others outside the Cathedral said,""I'm glad that they picked a Pope that is very humble because that's what the world needs,"
