Area Catholics seem both united in their excitement about and impressed with the humility of the new leader of the Roman Catholic Church, Pope Francis, who was elected to the papacy Wednesday in Vatican City.

When the Rev. Teofilo Useche left the rectory at St. Maximilian Kolbe Catholic Church in Port Charlotte on Thursday morning, he felt a few flecks of rain and wind on his face and was instantly reminded of Iguazu Falls in Argentina. To Useche, it was a sign that an important new shepherd had been chosen to guide the church.