Bishop Ochoa Reacts to Election of Pope Francis I

March 13, 2013 Updated Mar 13, 2013 at 7:05 PM PDT

This was the first thing that threw off valley Catholics...

White smoke on just the second day of Conclave...

Then, he appeared... Pope Francis I...

With Pope Francis being from Argentina, Bishop Armando Ochoa of the Diocese of Fresno, believes the needs of Hispanic Catholics will be addressed more directly.

About one-third of US Catholics are of Hispanic origin...

"What can we do more to welcome the stranger within us and certainly extend that hand of "bienvenido" to everyone?"

Bishop Ochoa also believes that the College of Cardinals saw a need to choose someone who was familiar with the vatican's operations, including the church's faults.

He says it's a time of jubilation, but that the name of Francis came as a surprise.

"It really threw us off. I was thinking, a Jesuit choosing FranciS? What happened to Francis Xavier? Ah, there is Francis Xavier, but what happened to Ignacius? I'm sure he's going to give us an answer in his own time."

You got a sense from Bishop Ochoa that there's a sort of rivalry among the Catholic community with Jesuits.

They are more liberal than traditional Catholics, but still hold the same core beliefs.

But the bishop says the world will benefit... Jesuits are known for their work in education, research and missionary work.

Father Jim Torrens says Jesuits here in California have a special bond with Pope Francis' homeland of Argentina.

"We're trying to work closely with them in social change, social development and education and other needs."

Bishop Ochoa says Pope Francis is breaking tradition somewhat, by actually leaving the vatican tomorrow.

He'll be going to St. Mary Major, to pray for the protection of the people of Rome.

Bishop Ochoa says it's this effort, that leads him to believe, this Pope will hit the ground running.

Bishop Ochoa came to the Diocese of Fresno from El Paso...

His replacement has yet to be named there...

That will be up to the newly elected Pope Francis...

And for Bishop Ochoa's news conference comments in their entirety... You can watch right here on KSEE24.com... It's today's web exclusive.