Local Catholic officials react to selection of South American cardinal as pope
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Tom Murray also speaks with a South American-born priest who once met the pope. Video by tmj4.com
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MILWAUKEE - Archbishop Listecki presided over a mass of thanksgiving at St. Francis Seminary Wednesday. The archbishop said he was stunned by the cardinals’ quick decision.
The Archdiocese announced the Milwaukee mass in Christ King Chapel shortly after the white smoke emerged. Archbishop Jerome Listecki delivered his homily holding a staff while talking publicly for the first time about the new shepherd over the Catholic Church.
“The rest of us celebrate not only with Him but with the church throughout the world of now having a shepherd again who is now before us, calling us to our one shepherd who makes us whole,” Listecki said during mass.
Venezuelan-born Milwaukee priest Javier Bustos once met the fellow South American man who is now pope.
“Inspiring person, humble, easing going, very kind,” said Bustos. “That is definitely a very inviting personality I would say.”
Bustos said he had no idea at the time Cardinal Bergoglio would become the next pope.
Many Wisconsin Catholics hoped cardinals would elect former Milwaukee archbishop, now Cardinal, Timothy Dolan.
“I don’t think it was far-fetched at all to think that Dolan was being considered, not at all,” said Archbishop Listecki.
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