KIRKSVILLE, MO -- With the joy of Wednesday's news of the election of the new Pope Francis I, KTVO went to one local Catholic priest to get his reaction.

Father Chris Cordes of Mary Immaculate Catholic Church in Kirksville got the news when he received a text from a friend about the white smoke and turned on the T.V. to watch the coverage.

He was very surprised at first on how fast the conclave made their decision but was very happy and excited with the news.

Cordes said this is also a historic day for the church as the world welcomes its first ever pope from Latin America.

"I do think it is good to have someone from that part of the world that is heavily populated with people of the Catholic religion. It is a new area from where we had popes in the past. I think it is another great quality that he brings to the church," Cordes said.

Cordes also says that the new pope will help bring a sense of renewal and hope to the Catholic Church to bring it in a more positive direction.