Michigan Catholic leaders praise pick of new pope - WNEM TV 5

Detroit's archbishop and the leader of Michigan Catholics are praising the selection of a South American archbishop as the new Pope Francis.

Michigan Catholic Conference President Paul A. Long says his group welcomes the choice "with a profound sense of happiness and joy."

Detroit Archbishop Allen Vigneron says he joins "all the faithful in thanking Christ for this grace."

The 1.3 million-member Archdiocese of Detroit says Vigneron will preside at a vespers service at 5:15 p.m. at the chapel of Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit.

Argentine Archbishop Jorge Bergoglio was elected pope Wednesday and chose the name Pope Francis. He's the first ever pontiff from the Americas and the first from outside Europe in more than a millennium.

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