Catholics on the streets of Buenos Aires were in high spirits on Thursday, after fellow Argentine, Jorge Bergoglio, has been elected as pope.
Many were thrilled to have the first South American at the helm of the church hailing from their own city.
(SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) BUENOS AIRES RESIDENT, CLAUDIO FORTUCHI, SAYING:
"I am very happy. I think it's about time that we have a South American pope."
(SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) BUENOS AIRES RESIDENT, JORGE RUIVAL, SAYING:
"I am happy that it's an Argentine, perhaps at least we will get out of this a bit [economic difficulties] that we are experiencing and I wish him all the best to continue."
Another resident said the choice to make Bergoglio the leader of the world's 1.2 billion Catholics means Argentina was doing something right.
Despite a rise in secularism and dwindling faith in the scandal-plagued Church, Latin America is home to approximately 40 percent of the world's Catholics.
