Laurel Clergy Applaud Election of 'Humble' Pope Francis

Pope Francis's introduction to the world on Wednesday was met with cheers, prayers, and fascination from many Catholics as they took stock of the newly-elected pontiff.

After two days of voting, the College of Cardinals had chosen Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, the Archbishop of Buenos Aires, to succeed Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI.

The selection of Bergoglio—theologically conservative but known as a champion of social justice—marked a number of firsts, including the first pope from the Americas, the first Jesuit to head the church, and the first pontiff to bear the name Francis.

In Laurel, several clergymen hailed Bergoglio as a promising choice to lead an estimated 1.2 billion Catholics worldwide.

"He certainly seemed like a humble man as he stood before the crowd," said Monsignor Michael Mellone, pastor of St. Mary of the Mills Parish in Laurel.

Mellone praised the new pope as a scholar, philosopher, and advocate for the poor with a history of denying many of the trappings of high office.

Bergoglio reportedly eschewed the archbishop's palace in Buenos Aires in favor of a simple apartment and took the bus to get around rather than rely on a chauffeur.

"He's a man, as I look at it, who identifies with many of the poor who live in Argentina," Mellone said.

Mellone said he's particularly interested to learn more about Bergoglio's choice of Francis as his papal name.

It might be an homage to St. Francis of Assisi—the thirteenth-century founder of the Franciscan order known for preaching in the streets and leading a life of poverty—or it could be a reference to Francis Xavier, one of the first Jesuits who helped to spread Christianity into parts of Asia in the sixteenth century.

Or, Mellone said, it could be a combination of the two.

Rev. Mark S. Bialek, pastor of Resurrection of Our Lord Parish in North Laurel, echoed Mellone's sentiments, calling the new pontiff "a very genuine, a very humble man."

"I think it's a very exciting choice," Bialek said. "So many of the members of the Catholic Church are now Hispanic—from South America and Central America—so it really does unite the world around one figure in his holiness, Pope Francis." 

Like Mellone, Bialek said he wasn't familiar with Bergoglio before his election. Still, he expects to see a "great sense of celebration" over the new pope from the members of his parish, about half of whom are Hispanic.

"I believe this is going to be a wonderful time in the history and life of the church," Bialek said.

Mellone celebrated a special Mass of Thanksgiving Wednesday night at St. Vincent Pallotti High School, while Bialek said his parish would offer prayers on the pope's behalf during mass on Sunday.