VATICAN CITY
CBS Los Angeles
[with video]
VATICAN CITY (CBSLA.com) — Moments after the world was introduced to the new pontiff, LA Cardinal Roger Mahony spoke to CBS2′s Sylvia Lopez exclusively about the selection process and what the first Latin American pope will mean to the church.
Reported Lopez, “For weeks, Cardinal Mahony has tweeted and blogged his thoughts but he was unable to talk due to a media ban. But after the conclave today, he came immediately back after a celebration to talk with us about his feelings about the new pontiff.”
“I am ecstatic. Absolutely ecstatic. In fact, I really have a hard time sitting down. I want to stand up and cheer,” said Mahony.
The LA cardinal believes the selection of the first pope from Latin America will have a major impact on the church.
“This is unimaginable. The impact this is going to have have. Particularly, of course, in Latin America. It’s the first time we ever had a southern hemisphere pope. It’s just extraordinary. When we reached 77 (votes), everybody started applauding, because they knew that that was the number. And we had a new pope.”
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