On a normal day at the shrine in New Franken, the crypt is the center of attention.
But today, was different.
"All of a sudden I get a telephone call down there and my friend told me that the white smoke was coming out and she said 'We have a new pope! We have a new pope!' and I said 'Goodness gracious that's wonderful!'" says Shrine volunteer Dan Drossart.
Drossart, and nearly every person on the grounds, soon huddled together in front of a computer monitor in the shrine offices, anxiously watching and waiting for his name to be announced.
A Jesuit and an Argentinean, Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio was an unexpected choice.
"I think everybody is surprised he's not one of the names that everyone was talking about so it just goes to teach us the holy spirit often has other plans," says Shrine Rector Father Peter Stryker.
Nevertheless, he is confident Pope Francis will do a great job.
"He seems to be a very humble man. In his diocese he would often ride the bus he would often be among the people so he's going to be a wonderful face for Catholics and around the world," says Stryker.
Father Stryker says they'll be holding special masses at the Shrine in honor of the newly elected Pope in the coming days and soon, they'll start handing out prayer cards with information about him.
