Catholics in Charleston joined the world as they watched the first American pope was elected in the Vatican City on Thursday. Randall Hoffman who is a parishioner of the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston said that he thought he would never see an American- born pope and believes that the historic milestone will be positive for the church’s future. “It was very, very cool. I just never thought that there would be an American pope,” Hoffman said. “I’m ecstatic. I grew up Roman Catholic, so I’m happy that he’s representing the United States and us.” Chicago-born Cardinal Robert Prevost was elected as the next pope and in one of his first acts in the role, he took the name Pope Leo XIV.