Catholics at Saint Thomas More School Hopeful for New Pope

When Molly McGoldrick picked up her daughters Wednesday afternoon at Saint Thomas More Catholic School, they didn't say, "Hi, Mom." They said, "We've got a new pope!"

Like Catholics across the globe, the kids and parents at the Decatur school were excited to learn that Jorge Bergoglio of Argentina, a Jesuit who worked closely with the poor, was elected pope.

"He's trying to bring the church back to its roots," said McGoldrick, of Avondale Estates. "He's walked with the poor. His mission is to be a missionary. It's far away from the pomp" of the past.

Bergoglio will be called Pope Francis, after the 13th-century Italian minister who lived in poverty, and McGoldrick was impressed with his humble manner.

"He spoke to the crowd in common person terms which made them instantly fall in love with him," she said.

Romana Chalaf, a teacher at the school, said students had followed the papal election process closely. They were performing the stations of the cross when the news broke and "all the teachers went in the classrooms and turned on the TVs," she said.

After classes ended, the teachers crowded around a television to hear the speech. "I speak Italian so I was able to translate what he said," she said.

Parents picking up their kids after school said they were optimistic about the new pope.

"I'm pleased to hear they've expanded from European parishes," said Jennifer Malcom of Clarkston, who attends Saint Thomas More Church. "There's such a strong following of Catholics in South America. It will be beneficial to have other perspectives."

Robert Robinson of Stone Mountain said, "I always believe new leadership is good, not that I think the previous pope was doing a bad job. ... Things will be looked at a different way."

What do you think about the selection of the first pope from the Americas? Tell us in the comments area below.

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Ga Tech Catholic Center Buzzes Over Pope Francis