St. Isidore priest praises pope selection

The selection of Jorge Mario Bergoglio as pope won praise from the Rev. Miguel Silva, pastor of St. Isidore Catholic Church in Yuba City.

"He is a humble man who will work hard for the poor," Silva said. "He will be a hard worker for our church."

The pastor also noted that the papal name Francis the new pope chose is a favorite of Italians.

Monsignor Jim Murphy, vicar general of the Diocese of Sacramento, said the papal selection was a surprise although Bergoglio has been in the background of Vatican affairs.

Murphy noted that half of the Sacramento diocese is Hispanic and that the new pope is from Latin America.

"One could even say that the Hispanics are the future of the Catholic Church," Murphy said.

Nearly half the world's Catholics live in Latin America.