St. Anthony's Catholic Church hopes New Pope Brings Change

It was pasta, bread, and a toast of celebration at St. Anthony's Catholic Church for their annual St. Joseph's Day Dinner. It is their way of giving back. Reverend James Ciaramitaro of St. Anthony's Catholic Church says "the heart of the celebration is to honor St. Joseph by providing a meal particularly for the poor."

Members of the church are also in good spirits about the new pope. They have made a shrine for him. They say what really makes them honored is his name choice. Ciaramitaro says "we're overjoyed ourselves since Pope Francis has taken the name of our founder Francis of Assisi"

Churchgoers feel it marks a new era for the Catholic Church. Brian Leggero of Rockford says "we've had our problems, but we're getting ahead of that. You know solving the problems and getting the church back together."

Antonina Laudicina was born in Italy, which is where the pope resides. She thinks Pope Francis will help out the poor the same way her church St. Anthony's does. Laudicina says "the poor need a lot of help, we all do and he will bless us."

Members of the church feel the same way. Leggero says "there's a lot of Catholics in impoverished countries and he's going to really help them. St. Anthony's feels the Catholic Church is heading in the right direction. Ciaramitaro says "it really does signal a lot of newness and I think this pope definitely brings a new style to the papacy."