A Berkshires priest who has ties to the pope says he's thrilled over his appointment. YNN's Madeleine Rivera talked to him to learn more about the man who is now being called Pope Francis.

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STOCKBRIDGE, Mass. -- Pope Francis looks over the masses. Thousands of people who witnessed his appointment in Rome. But if you want to know more about the Jesuit priest from Argentina, you don't have to go further than the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy in Stockbridge.

"He's a very humble person," said Father Kaz Chwalek, Provincial Superior of the Marians at the shrine.

He worked with Cardinal Bergoglio on religious projects in past years.

"When we had this wonderful idea of a Congress of the Divine Mercy, we were looking for key people to help us, to support us and he was one of those key people," said Chwalek.

So he is thrilled over Bergoglio's new role.

"He is a person of tender heart, who understand people, being so low key, there's quite a depth of his love for simple people."

We asked a few visitors at the shrine how they felt about a new pope. One woman said she's excited.

The National Shrine of the Divine Mercy gets visitors from all over the world. So they don't have parishioners like a local church would have. But in terms of what a local priest and what a visitor from Toronto expect from a Pope, well, there doesn't seem to be much difference in that.

"A pope who would be able to speak to the youth and speak to all who are continuing with the ministry," said Cheryliane Gones, a visitor from Toronto.

"World Youth Day in Brazil. I know that he'll go there, he'll meet the young people. I know he'll try to inspire them," said Chwalek.

Pope Francis will hold his inaugural mass on March 19th.