Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - A local priest says the news of an American pope was something he thought he'd never see in his lifetime.
"I went into complete shock," says Father Bill Quinlivan, pastor at Catholic Family Parishes in South Buffalo. "It must be God's will, so we'll find out what that means for the Americans, but also for the whole world, that every time a Holy Father is elected, it's a gift to the whole world the universal church."
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Quinlivan says we'll have to wait to see what his leadership style will be. "I think just a with the change in leadership. It always has to do with finding out what that person's gifts are and what their talents and their charisms are for serving the church," says Quinlivan. "I think every Pope develops his own style of leadership. In my lifetime, there's been probably about six or seven popes, and each one was a little bit different from each other, and each one just brings something to to the office."
Quinlivan says the new pope's first address mirrored most other popes, speaking for the first time as leader of the Catholic Church. "It's always a wish of the peace of Christ on the world. It's always a call for people to unite across borders and across differences, to let love and forgiveness and mercy have their way through the ministry of Christ that comes through the church. And so there's always a call the popes are always proclaim proclaiming the call for peace and to be peacemakers, because Jesus says Peace is the gift I give to you," says Quinlivan.
Quinlivan says the election of an American pope shows the Holy Spirit moves where it will, and that nothing's impossible with God.