Arlington Catholics celebrated the election of Pope Francis with a special mass at the Cathedral of St. Thomas More on Tuesday.

“On this day we pray for our new Pope Francis, it is such a blessing to have him,” said the Most Rev. Paul S. Loverde, bishop of Arlington.

Several priests from the Catholic Diocese of Arlington participated in the well-attended afternoon mass, including Father Tom Ferguson of the Good Shepherd Catholic Church in Alexandria and Father Robert Rippy, rector at the Cathedral of St. Thomas More.

The diocese encompases 21 counties in Northern Virginia.

“Pope Francis, we pray for you everyday,” Loverde said to parishioners. “We offer you our faith, fidelity and commitment to repair the church of Christ.”

The mass took place hours after Pope Francis was officially inaugurated in front of a crowd of thousands at Vatican City's St. Peter's Square on Tuesday morning.