Hoping to share in a piece of history, Catholics poured into the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels April 26 to celebrate with Cardinal Roger Mahony the election of Pope Benedict XVI.

"We rejoice now at the help we have in the strong hand of Peter in the person of Pope Benedict," said the cardinal during the noontime Mass celebrated a day after he returned from Rome.

More than 3,000 worshippers filled the Cathedral to standing-room-only capacity. Students in Catholic school uniforms blended with tourists in shorts and jeans, religious women in habits and office workers in business attire. Many said they had closely followed the coverage of Pope John Paul's funeral and Pope Benedict's election on television and in newspapers.

Cardinal Mahony elaborated on the dual roles of the pope as a Good Shepherd guiding, leading and nourishing his people, and as the fisherman inviting new people to join the worldwide Catholic community or return to their faith tradition. He emphasized that all Catholics share in that commitment.

"All of us, through our baptism, are called to be shepherds and look out and care for one another," said the cardinal. He added the Christian responsibility to "cast the net out into the world to bring people to come and know and love Jesus Christ.

The festive occasion began with a solemn litany of the saints --- as was done in Rome at Pope John Paul's funeral, during the beginning of the conclave and at Pope Benedict's inauguration Mass --- to observe that Catholics can count on the community of saints to accompany them on the journey of faith, said the cardinal.

In the sanctuary were a dozen deacons, about 50 priests, and the auxiliary bishops. A large framed photo of a smiling Pope Benedict with his arms outstretched following his election April 19 graced the altar.

Mari Hurtado, a parishioner at Resurrection Church in Los Angeles, said she felt gratitude following the election of Pope Benedict.

"We welcome our new pope," said Hurtado of her parish community. "I feel happy and proud, and we receive him with a lot of fondness and affection."

Eighth grader Jerry Hernandez of St. Odilia School in South Los Angeles pledged his loyalty. "We'll follow him because he's the leader of the church and he should know what's right," said Hernandez.

Yolanda Delos Angeles, a parishioner of Nativity Church in El Monte, said she was eager to pray for the new pope. Dressed in yellow and white, the colors of the papacy, Delos Angeles said she was petitioning for the well-being of the pope in her rosary prayers.

At a press conference prior to the Mass, Cardinal Mahony said he had felt the "weighty responsibility" entrusted to him and the other cardinals for electing the 265th pontiff. He turned to prayer for help and guidance, and said the experience was a "moment of grace" and one of the highlights of his life.

Pope Benedict told the cardinals and bishops he wants them to be more involved by offering advice and counsel.

"I'm not sure how that's going to happen, but I think we're ready to do it and assist him," said the cardinal.

In answer to a question about the sex abuse crisis, the cardinal said he fully expected the pope to support American bishops in strengthening and implementing the national norms established to prevent any future abuse of children. The U.S. bishops will next meet in Chicago in June.

"The pope is committed to our same goals and objectives," said Cardinal Mahony, noting that, as Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, the new pope met with the bishops on their visits to the Holy See and was well-informed about the local church throughout the world.

He added that the pope knows each of the cardinals by name and speaks to many of them in their native language. Beginning his pontificate at age 78, Pope Benedict will need to focus on what he determines is most important for the church at this time, said the cardinal.

"I expect to see evangelization a very high priority throughout the world and in his papacy as well," said Cardinal Mahony.