The former cardinal from Argentina is seen as a force for unification among Catholics from South through North America.
The selection of the Catholic church’s first pope from Latin America drew praise today from Hispanics in the Lehigh Valley, as many hope Pope Francis ushers in a new era of Latin Americans in positions of world leadership.
Lorna Velazquez, executive director of the Hispanic Center Lehigh Valley in Bethlehem, heralded the pick of Francis as a "sign of things to come."
Velazquez said the papal appointment of former Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, archbishop of Buenos Aires, Argentina, shows a new sense of diversity at the Vatican and believes it will prove itself increasingly relevant as the Latino population continues to grow worldwide.
For area children, Velazquez said, seeing an Argentinian like Francis on the world stage could be a positive motivator.
"I think it will inspire our youth and our adults as well," Velazquez said.
In colonial Old San Juan district in Puerto Rico, Jose Antonio Cruz, a Franciscan friar, said the new pope would help revitalize the church.
“It’s a huge gift for all of Latin America. We waited 20 centuries. It was worth the wait,” said Cruz, wearing the brown cassock tied with a rope that is the signature of the Franciscan order. “Everyone from Canada down to Patagonia is going to feel blessed. This is an event.”
Allentown Diocese Bishop John Barres echoed the sentiment, saying the roots of the church's new leader represent an important opportunity to unify Catholics across the Americas.
"It's a sign of our globalized church," he said.
At Bethlehem’s Holy Infancy Church, which has a majority Hispanic congregation, Monsignor Joseph Sobiesiak called the selection of a Latin American pope "a good surprise."
“I think there’s been the hope for that, just personally, I didn’t think they’d go out of Europe at this point,” said Sobiesiak, who is assistant pastor there.
The Rev. Scott Ardinger, pastor of Incarnation of Our Lord, also in Bethlehem, said, "The Spanish speakers in the United States are going to be really blessed to have a native Spanish speaker.”
Reporters Andrew George and Lynn Olanoff and The Associated Press contributed to this report.