ST. PAUL — A Minnesota woman says she feels like she won the lottery when a fellow Argentinian was named the new pope.

Celina Martina, a native of Argentina, has lived in St. Paul for the last 15 years. She saidshe could see the newly elected Pope Francis “being the priest of my church.”

Martina says the new pope, who was Argentine Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, knows the customs and traditions that she had growing up.

She says the selection of a pope from Latin America has strengthened her connection to the Catholic Church, even though she does not agree with some teachings such as its opposition to gay marriage.

Martina says “Any Spanish-speaking, Latin American is feeling overwhelmed and happy today.”

In St. Cloud, students at Cathedral High School got to watch the historic announcement of the new pope from their classroom.

Theology teacher Jim Trout turned on the live broadcast Wednesday for his students. Trout says he felt it was important for his students to witness it.

More than 20 students watched on TV as Argentine Jorge Mario Bergoglio was announced as the first pope from the Americas. He will take the name Pope Francis.