Marblehead Faithful's Hopes for New Pope Francis: That He 'Mend Some of the Ill'

Word spread quickly among the faithful at Our Lady, Star of the Sea that their church had a new leader: A cardinal from Argentina who had taken the name Francis.

"I was very excited," said Kathleen Nelson, administrative assistant in religious education. She'd seen the news at the church rectory, across the street from her office at the church community center.

The hallways at the community center buzzed with children coming for religious education classes Wednesday afternoon as the world learned that Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Buenos Aires had been chosen as the new pope.

Mary Pagliarulo, director of religious education, paused a moment between shuttling children to the correct class to reflect on the naming of the first pope from the Americas.

"I hope he'll help with evangelization," Pagliarulo said, "with bringing people back to the church."

Several parishioners said they hoped Francis could put an end to the sexual abuse scandals that have damaged the reputation of the church hierarchy.

Asked her hopes of the new pope, Nelson said she'd like to see him "mend some of the ill that has happened in the past so people come back to the church."

Parent Ali Church paused to talk as she supervised her children's walk across adjacent athletic fields.

"My one hope," she said," is that that can be in the past."

Parishioners also had Archbishop Sean O'Malley, whose portrait hangs in the vestibule of the community center, on their mind. The leader of the Archdiocese of Boston wasn't chosen as pontiff this time, despite rumors that he was among those being strongly considered.

"Maybe it will be Archbishop O'Malley next time," Nelson said.

What's your reaction to the naming of the new pope? Share your thoughts with other Marblehead residents below in the comments.