Catholics across Canada appear excited about the future of the church under the leadership of newly-elected Pope Francis I -- an Argentine and the first pope from Latin America.
Pope Francis, formerly known as Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio, was elected on Wednesday afternoon in the fifth round of voting by cardinals in the Sistine Chapel.
Rev. Michael Miller, archbishop of Vancouver, said the election of the first non-European to the papacy marks an important milestone for the church.
"I think it sort of reminds the world the church is universal, the church is not just European. In fact, two-thirds of the world's Catholics live outside of Europe and I think there are 450 million Catholics in Latin America," Miller told reporters in Vancouver.
With the Catholic Church growing in many areas outside of Europe, many felt it was time for a pope who reflected the church's increasing cultural and geographic diversity.
The election of Pope Francis accomplished just that, some said.
"I think it is recognizing the reality of the church," said Father Claude Grou, the rector of St-Joseph's Oratory in Montreal. "The church is growing in Asia, Africa and Latin America. To have someone from these areas of the world where the church is growing and younger is a good sign for the church of tomorrow."
In Calgary, rector of St. Mary's Cathedral Father Greg Coupal agreed.
"My first reaction was 'who?' because he was one who was named as a possibility but not one whose name I was familiar with. And the fact he's from South America is just incredible."
The decision also resonated with South Americans in Canada.
"It is over 90 per cent Catholic so I'm sure that they are happy in my country that it is a South American pope," said Carolina Grashof, who is visiting Montreal from Argentina.
Jorge Romberg, a businessman living in Calgary, said his native Argentina has cause to celebrate.
"Deep in my heart I wanted Cardinal Bergoglio to be chosen. It's a very fabulous opportunity for Argentina," he said.
Pope Francis, the former archbishop of Buenos Aires, is known as a humble man who takes public transit to work in order to stay in touch with the people, has a heart for the poor and has chosen to live in a simple apartment.
He is also viewed as a reformer who may help modernize the church.
Francis' election received a warm welcome from leaders of other religions, who saw it as an opportunity to explore commonalities and build bridges.
"I think Pope Francis will help Christians and Muslims and people of all other faiths to come together and have a peace and harmony and his direction will help all of us," said Syed Soharwardy, of the Islamic Supreme Council of Canada.
Back in Calgary, one self-declared female Catholic priest congratulated the newly-minted pope, but said she has little hope that he will change the church's longstanding refusal to ordain women priests -- a stance she believes is outdated and sexist.
Monica Kilburn-Smith, priest of St. Brigid of Kildare Catholic Community, was ordained by a female bishop in 2008 in Victoria. Her title isn’t recognized by the Vatican.
Kilburn-Smith said women are often treated as second-class citizens within the church. Whether Pope Francis will do anything to change that, she said, has yet to be seen.
"I have some hope, there's always hope at a new beginning but I'm also realistic that it looked like the deck was pretty stacked with cardinals who come from a conservative background. So whether he will come up with something different that we didn't think about, who knows,” Kilburn-Smith said.
“I'm glad we have a new pope and we can sort of start again.”
