Excitement in Argentina ahead of Pope inauguration

  • 11 years ago
As Pope Francis prepares to be inaugurated, Catholics in Buenos Aires have been celebrating their first Latin American leader.

Crowds gathered in support on Monday (March 18) just hours before the city's former cardinal is formally installed at the Vatican.

SOUNDBITE: (Spanish) ARGENTINE, JORGE DIAZ, SAYING:

"I am Catholic and I am proud that the Pope is Argentine, the first Latin American pope. And the truth is that this is a proud moment for all the Catholic community, not just Argentina, but the world."

Excitement across the country has been running high since the Argentinian was elected pope last week.

He's the first non-European pontiff in over 1,000 years.

Tuesday's (March 19) inaugural Mass is expected to be simpler than previous years, to befit a more modest pope.