Local Catholics react to Pope resignation

GREEN BAY, Wis. (WFRV) - Northeast Wisconsin is home to more than 324,000 Catholics.

At masses today people were buzzing about the unexpected resignation.

Parishioners at Saint Francis Xavier Cathedral turned to prayer this morning as their church begins the search for a new Pope.

"I think he was very brave to make that decision" says Harry Morgan.

Another Catholic parishioner Michael Lee says he was "initially saddened, because I came back to the church because of Pope Benedict".

"We did not have him that long so I did not feel like I knew him as well as a I knew the previous Pope, John Paul" says Karen Coppersmith   

The Catholic church wants to have a replacement by Easter. Worshipers are not worried about the timeline.

"This does not catch God by surprise, he is not up there going whoa what do I do now" Lee says.

Pope Benedict will be remembered for his hand in re-translating English mass.

For the first time in 40 years words to things like the Nicene Creed changed.

"The faithful translation was overdue and very important. As a person who can read Latin it always bothered me. I could see what we were supposed to be saying, we missed a whole paragraph in the Gloria, now it's back" says Lee.  

Catholics are looking for a few important items on the next Popes resume.

"The person who would be most qualified would be the person who would best be able to carry on the traditions of the church and teach people the long history and the heritage that it has to offer" says worshiper John Klenke.

"I would love to see Archbishop Dolan in there that would be great" says Coppersmith.