Catholics on the streets of Buenos Aires were in high spirits on Thursday, after fellow Argentine, Jorge Bergoglio, has been elected as pope.<br/> <br />Many were thrilled to have the first South American at the helm of the church hailing from their own city.<br/> <br />(SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) BUENOS AIRES RESIDENT, CLAUDIO FORTUCHI, SAYING:<br/> <br />"I am very happy. I think it's about time that we have a South American pope."<br/> <br />(SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) BUENOS AIRES RESIDENT, JORGE RUIVAL, SAYING:<br/> <br />"I am happy that it's an Argentine, perhaps at least we will get out of this a bit [economic difficulties] that we are experiencing and I wish him all the best to continue."<br/> <br />Another resident said the choice to make Bergoglio the leader of the world's 1.2 billion Catholics means Argentina was doing something right.<br/> <br />Despite a rise in secularism and dwindling faith in the scandal-plagued Church, Latin America is home to approximately 40 percent of the world's Catholics.
