Parish priest for Rotorua Father Mark Field is excited about the newly-elected Pope Francis who he describes as a "man of the people" and a "pastoral pope".
Jorge Bergoglio of Argentina was elected Pope yesterday and chose the name Francis, becoming the first pontiff from the Americas and the first from outside Europe in more than a millennium.
The 76-year-old Pope replaces Pope Benedict XVI, who retired at the end of last month.
Father Mark said he was surprised at the election, as he had not heard of Pope Francis.
However, he was delighted as were many others who gathered at a regular Thursday mass in Rotorua.