It’s not just Catholics eagerly awaiting a new Pope

Black smoke means more waiting, and even more anticipation among Catholics.

“I’m excited. It’s going to be very interesting because we want change, and transparency,” Catholic David Marquardt said.

“The next Pope would possibly be from one of the areas of the world that is gaining in Catholicism more and more people,” Catholic Dave Noack said.

These Catholics said the right Pope could affect everyone.

“Leadership is important. We need someone to motivate you to want to do these things, and we really haven’t been very spiritual and religious. We need someone to get us off our butts and get going,” Marquardt said.

They said everyone has some reason to care.

“I think the world needs a leader, a spiritual leader. We believe spirituality has been going down. The virtues and those kids of things are not talked about today,” Marquardt said.

We sat down with Lutheran pastor Charlie Griggs who cares, very much.

“Someone who could deal with Islam is rather important. We don’t have a lot of formal structures to discuss religious ideas between some of our major world religions,” Pastor Griggs said. “If we could come to some agreement on ways to collaborate for the good of the community, across religious lines even outside of Christianity, that would be encouraging for people.”

Griggs says the voting method naturally sparks interest even among non-religious people.

“You’re curious about what is guarded, what seems hidden and what may be revealed soon,” Pastor Griggs said.