Locals prepare for new pope

MIAMI (WSVN) -- Many South Florida Catholics are watching and waiting for white smoke to billow out of the chimney while young Catholics have their own hopes and ideas for the next pope.

A sacred process is happening in Vatican City. Cardinals are electing the next pontiff.

Young Catholics at Belen Jesuit Preparatory say they are hoping for someone young and modern. Belen Jesuit student Eric Cuto said, "We need someone that is able because traveling around the country is super important. Making connections with people around the world really shows how the Catholic faith is expanding."

Belen Jesuit student Kenji Martinez adds, "It would actually be very interesting to see a pope that could actually do that because a lot of young students like me, we're not interested in using catholic.com or websites like that, so maybe using Facebook, Twitter and things like that would get us a lot more into it."

But when all the votes are in, these Catholics have assurance, whatever the outcome is, is best for the Church. "I think they are all really prepared, and I don't think the church can go wrong with this one," said Belen Jesuit student Eric Cuto.

The Archdiocese of Miami said, as the conclave continues there are no specific or special prayer services at the Catholic churches in our community, but they are encouraging people to pray on their own.

(Copyright 2013 by Sunbeam Television Corp. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)