LA Catholics welcome Pope Francis

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Newly elected Pope Francis, Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Argentina appears on the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica after being elected by the conclave of cardinals. Photo by Dylan Martinez/Reuters

White smoke rose from the Sistine Chapel and the crowds waited for Argentina’s Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio to walk out on to the balcony. He has taken the name Pope Francis and is the first pope from South America at a time when 40 percent of the world’s Catholics live in Latin America.

KCRW’s Saul Gonzalez was at the Cathedral of the Lady of Our Angels in Los Angeles to find out how Catholic Angelenos were responding to the decision.  It is important for “getting us pass the scandals, getting us past the child abuse and being transparent,” said Daniel Gutierrez, who was at the Cathedral with his family and baby daughter.  Listen below: