ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla.-- As Jorge Bergoglio was introduced to the world Wednesday, people from Rome to St. Augustine rejoiced.
"Not only as a Catholic am I thrilled, but as a South American. I couldn't be happier," Vicky Duncan said.
Cathedral Basilica of St. Augustine is known to attract tons of visitors each year. With the symbolic time, today was no different.
"Nothing better than being in this church in this setting on this special day. It made history someone from the Americas was chosen," Duncan continued.
Joyce Filipovitz and her husband paused in the pews to say a prayer. They say they're happy with the new pope.
'I think it can really be meaningful for the church and the young people at this time," she said.
Bergoglio is the first non-European Pope since the 700s. He's also a known lover of the poor and the first pope from South America.
Though he'll be responsible for shepherding the world's 1.2 billion Catholics, many believe he'll rise to the task.
"There's change happening it seems like so it's exciting," Sean Gilligan said.
