Thousands of parishioners packed the pews at The Cathedral Shrine of the Virgin of Guadalupe in Downtown Dallas Sunday to celebrate and give thanks to the election of Pope Francis.
"You watch it on TV and you see the flags and people from all over the world-- Asia, Latin America and Europe-- you know all there, and this is our little part of that," Ruben Hernandez, a parishioner said.
Sunday’s two Thanksgiving masses were led by Bishop Kevin Farrell of the Catholic Diocese of Dallas who recognized the new pope's humble upbringing.
"I foresee a change of style— the way of doing things— but not great changes and not great doctrinal changes," Bishop Farrell said.
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Nancy Martinez and her family, who regularly attend Sunday mass, hope that this change in leadership within the Catholic Church serves as encouragement for other families.
"I pray for that, yes. I feel now everybody is going to be stronger about their faith," Martinez said.
Meanwhile, Maria-Pia Herrera, who is studying pastoral ministry at the University of Dallas, believes that Francis' papacy will shine a spotlight on items that often go unnoticed.
"When you come from a third world country you see the poverty that people live in. It's a reality,” Herrera said.
"With the support coming from above-- the pope— I think we're going to be able to accomplish many things."
