Kennesaw Catholic on New Pope Francis: 'A Fantastic Choice'

Update, 7 p.m.

Click here for reaction from the Archdiocese of Atlanta.

Update, 3:28 p.m.

Argentine Jorge Bergoglio has been elected pope, the first ever from the Americas and the first from outside Europe in more than a millennium. He chose the name Pope Francis.

At least one local Catholic was pleased with the choice.

"He is the first Jesuit to be elected pope," said Jameson Curnick, campus ministry assistant at the Catholic Center at Kennesaw State University. "He's been around. He's participated in the conclaves of John Paul II and Benedict and he even then was considered possibly to be elected. He is more traditional with a lot of emphasis on helping the poor.

"Recently he went to the hospital and was known for washing the feet, kissing the feet of those who had been infected with the AIDS virus. He's a very humble man. We definitely think it's a fantastic choice and we're definitely excited to see what happens to the church during his papacy."

Bishop Luis R. Zarama of the Archdiocese of Atlanta will hold a press conference at 3:30 p.m. today in Smyrna to comment on the new pope.

Original story, 2:32 p.m.

White smoke appeared at the Sistine Chapel chimney on Wednesday afternoon indicating that a pope has been elected and has accepted the position.

"We're all very excited," said Jameson Curnick, campus ministry assistant at the Catholic Center at Kennesaw State University. "Most of us are watching on the news now. We really don't have an idea who it's going to be. We're excited to support whoever the cardinals have elected as our new pope."

Bishop Luis R. Zarama of the Archdiocese of Atlanta will hold a press conference at 3:30 p.m. today in Smyrna to comment on the new pope.

According to Catholic tradition, the newly appointed Bishop of Rome is the 266th successor of St. Peter and leader of the worldwide Catholic Church consisting of 1.2 billion Catholics.

The white smoke appeared at 7:05 p.m. CET (2:05 p.m. EDT / 11:05 a.m. PDT) time after five rounds of voting. In 2005, Benedict XVI was elected on the second day after four rounds of voting.

The Catholic Church's 115 cardinal electors voted in this papal election, and the newly appointed pontiff has received at least 77 votes.

With the next hour or so, the big bell of St. Peter's Basilica is supposed to ring confirming the election. In 2005, there were approximately 40 minutes between the smoke signal and the ringing of the bell.

Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, former president of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, will appear on the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica to shout "Habemus Papam!" ("We have a pope!). He'll present the new pope, who will be in white papal cassocks (three sizes are kept on reserve) and give his first blessing as pope.

This is a developing story. Stayed tuned for more.