Several local residents dropped what they were doing this afternoon to watch live coverage of developments from The Vatican.

Parishioners at St. Mary's Catholic Center in College Station had been waiting anxiously for the big announcement.

"I was crying. I was like don't break down. It was just so exciting,” said Johanna Hackemack, who attends the church.

It’s her first time following a pope election and her excitement, at such a young age, is what made the experience worthwhile for Gerry Hince.

"Seeing the young people excited is what made me excited. How could you not be excited talking to those young people today? It is just the future of the church. This is our new leader,” said Hince who works at the church.

Father David Konderla is the pastor at St. Mary's Catholic Center who stopped work to join the group.

"When he first came out and they announced his name, I had no idea who he was. I felt like people felt when John Paul was announced. Carol who? Carol Wojtyla. Who is Carol Wojtyla,” said Konderla.

Who is Pope Francis? We'll find out more in the coming days, but from his first speech as pontiff, people started to form an opinion.

"Before he even prayed for us, he asked our prayers for him. That's a man of humility of compassion. That's our new pope,” said Hince.