As Pope Francis celebrates his first mass in Vatican City Sunday, the faithful across Northeast Wisconsin gather inside St. Francis Xavier Cathedral in downtown Green Bay.
Bishop David Ricken leads the congregation in a mass of thanksgiving.
"A Cardinal friend said to him have courage and the pope described this as a dangerous time because the votes were coming his way," Bishop Ricken tells about last week's conclave. "And then he said remember the poor."
It's a testament to the message from Bishop Ricken of the Green Bay Catholic Diocese as a church locally, and across the world, looks to rebuild.
"You know I've had testimonies from priests coming into me," Bishop Ricken said. "And one of our good priests told me, with tears in his eyes, he said Bishop people are coming back after 35 years, one person after 40 years, 23 years. People are coming to back to the sacrament, and he said with tears in his eyes, I feel like a real priest one again."
Pope Francis will be officially installed Tuesday.
