Rochester Catholics Celebrate Pope Francis

Rochester Catholics celebrated the first Sunday with Pope Francis at the helm at a special mass in his honor at Sacred Heart Cathedral.

Grateful, thankful, hopeful. That's how some Rochester Catholics we spoke with tonight said they are feeling at the mass celebrating the election of Pope Francis.

He is the first member of the worldwide Jesuit order of priests to be elected Pope.

"There is so much possibility in the church, ya know. The plan of the Holy Spirit, you never know where it's going to go. And I think people are very excited to kind of pray together and celebrate this event," said Fr. Jim Coughlin, Rochester Diocese.

Rochester Catholics held this mass in thanksgiving for the election of the new Holy Father. Many embracing this as hope for a new beginning for a church facing many challenges.

"I think the challenges are many. There are many social justice issues in the world. There are issues of globalization, that again, are very complex. And the Catholic Church needs to be a leader in bringing and living out the Gospel for the world," said Andy Cavacos, McQuaid Jesuit.

A spiritual start for a foundation built on prayer.

With the election of the Pope just this past Wednesday, many were eager to come together in prayer tonight at the hand of a new Holy Father.