Catholics Look For Hope In New Pope

The pews at St. Joseph's Cathedral were full Wednesday night.

“This is where they bless oils for confirmation throughout the year. So a lot of parishes have brought the young people who are going to be confirmed throughout the year,” said Kelly Kayser, who brought students from Bridgewater, Canistota and Alexandria to the special Mass.

The Chrism Mass is also a spiritual ritual where diocese priests renew their promises. As that happened, there was comfort knowing there was once again a Father of the Catholic Church.

“Tonight for the first time I'll be able to pray for Francis, our Pope,” Sioux Falls Diocese Bishop Paul J. Swain said.

Bishop Swain said the choice of an Argentinean leader signals a significant growth of the Catholic Church outside of Europe. Pope Francis helped modernize Argentina’s conservative Catholic Church.

“He's now the leader and will lead us in a new evangelization, which is a forward movement that Pope John Paul started and Pope Benedict continued,” Swain said.

“I grew up with John Paul II. And so I just really like to see a Pope who's very actively involved in young people, helping by uniting to the church and healing,” Kayser said.

All the Priests united with the Bishop and a capacity crowd of worshippers gathered on the night of his appointment may signal a divine alignment of two sacred rituals, which is a good start.

“It is energizing,” Swain said, “You could just feel it and see it among the people.”

Francis celebrates his first Mass as Pope with the Cardinals Thursday afternoon.