Speaking for the Atlanta Archdiocese, Bishop Luis Zarama said he was overjoyed at the election of a fellow Latino as pope.

“Having a pope from Latin America means I can speak Spanish now,” joked the Latino bishop.

Bombarded by questions about what the new pontiff’s priorities should be, Zarama had a suggestion of his own. Perhaps reporters were asking the wrong question.

“The first thing I’ll be looking for from the pope will be how he’ll be expecting us to serve him,” the bishop said.

Zarama predicted Pope Francis will be a warm and inviting Holy Father, yet was himself impressed by the humility of the man who, up until now, was known as Jorge Bergoglio, Archbishop of Buenos Aires, Argentina.

“I think it was very clear from the balcony in the way he approached (the crowd below), the way he asked them to pray for him and bowed his head in a moment of silence and mutual prayer between the people and him. This is a beautiful sign of closeness and humility…. It’s a great gift,” said the bishop.