Boston College excited for Jesuit pope

BOSTON (WHDH) -- Boston College was buzzing on Wednesday after the first Jesuit pope was chosen to lead the Catholic Church.

Students at Boston College, a Jesuit Catholic college, were excited Jesuit Pope Frances was elected.

Jesuits are members of a religious order of Roman Catholics with a firm tradition of education, humility and missionary work.

“There was screaming going on. In the library there was screaming. Everyone was excited, calling each other. You never see that in a library really, so it was exciting,” said Colleen Donnelly, a student at BC.

“It makes it that much better that he’s a Jesuit. Being a Jesuit school, it just brings you together,” said Ashley Karpen, a BC student.

“He bowed his head and asked for the benediction of the people rather than giving the benediction himself and I think that that action speaks volumes more than people know because it’s a sign of humility and it’s a sign of trust that the world church will lead him to be the best pope that he can be,” said Meg Stapleton-Smith, a BC student.

Dozens of students filtered in for a special mass to celebrate Pope Francis Wednesday night.

“My prayer tonight, and I hope it’s your prayer too, is that Pope Francis is the kind of pope who really does bring the dead back to life,” said Father Tony Penna, Boston College.

Other Jesuit priests on campus say they're humbled by selection.

“I looked at his face on that balcony and I think you can see the weight of the job,” a Boston College priest said.

So they gathered to pray for him, knowing they share the Jesuit values of education, humility and service with their new pope.