Cleveland-area Hispanics attend mass for the new pope

CLEVELAND - The bells were ringing at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Cleveland Wednesday night.  The parish had a special mass for the new pope.

"First of all, we want to thank God that we have a leader because we have felt this emptiness," Father Joseph Callahan said, "and also ask for blessings on this new chapter in the history of the church."

Our Lady of Lourdes is about 60 percent Hispanic. Parishioners said they are proud that Pope Francis is from Argentina.

"I think it's really nice that we have an Hispanic pope," Jacqueline Escobar said. "I'm proud."

Father Callahan said he was impressed with the pope's first words when he asked for prayers for both Benedict XVI  and for himself.

"He bowed to the people and asked for a moment of silence, which shows a great deal of humbleness and simplicity. Those gestures, I think, are going to mark his ministry as pope," he said.