From Vatican City to the Quad Cities, the Catholic Church has a new Pope with a new name that tells a timeless story.
"Francis was a reformer in the 13th century," says Father Chuck Adam from St. Ambrose University in Davenport, Iowa. "Francis called the church back to simplicity as well as care of the poor and care for creation. I saw the humble way the new Holy Father came out today and asked for a blessing and bowed before the crowd... a sign that humility is a hallmark of his papacy."
Father Adam says the pope's message is even more important for our youth, who deal with more distractions than ever in the Modern Era.
"We can lose sight of what's important," says Father Adam. "We live in a busy world and it's easy to be unfocused."
It's a lesson taught every week in religious classes at Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Bettendorf, Iowa. 7th graders to 1st graders are drawing the next chapter in the Catholic Church's history and say they're already learning from this inspiring leader.
"He visits the poor all the time and he cooked for himself," says 7th grader, Kelsi Scogland. "He didn't care about being famous or anything. He just wanted to be a simple man."
"I want to learn how to be a little bit simpler with all the things that we have, like all the electronics and the internet and stuff... just have it be simpler," says 7th grader, Cece Ballard.
Simplicity, humility, poverty are all things Saint Francis stood for. Now, there's a Pope Francis who is ready to take on that same challenge.
What also makes Pope Francis interesting is he is the first pope from outside Europe in more than 1,000 years. He is from Argentina. Father Adam says the fastest growing group of Catholics is actually from Latin America, including several third world countries.
Reverend Martin Amos, the Bishop of the Davenport Diocese, was not available to speak with News 8 today, but issues a statement which you can read here.