Local Clergy Weigh In on New Pope

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – The bells of Saint Joseph Catholic Church rang loud and clear in downtown Macon Wednesday afternoon as the world learned a new pope was elected.

41NBC’s Amanda Castro and Ashley Minelli got the chance to wait for the new pope to be announced with some of our local clergy. Saint Joseph’s father Allen McDonald invited us to watch with him, as the new pope was revealed.

“I would say that we are all surprised at the selection. He’s from Argentina, I was hoping for an Argentinian but another one that is from there,” Father McDonald said. “He is 76 years old, we’re a little bit surprised at his age. He is a Jesuit priest. He is taken the name Francis the First, so he is innovative in that.”

Father McDonald says this is first Jesuit pope and Saint Joseph was founded by Jesuits.