SAN DIEGO (CBS NEWS 8) - The newly appointed bishop of San Diego's Roman Catholic Diocese spent the day trying to strengthen the churches' ties to the community.
He gave his first blessing of a school.
Many of the Good Shepherd parishioners in Mira Mesa know Bishop Cirilo Flores. He was former Bishop Brom's adjutor.
"This is such a dynamic and energized parish," Bishop Flores said.
After the bishop blessed the new pre-school at Good Shepherd, parishioners tell CBS News 8 the bishop has many qualities similar to the pope.
"Like Pope Francis, by setting an example and being more simple and more approachable and putting a more human face on the church," Father Michael Robinson said.
The bishop was the adjutor to Bishop Brom since January 2012, Brom had been San Diego's bishop since 1990 and retired last month at age 75 -- the typical time for a bishop to step down.
In Mira Mesa, as Bishop Flores blessed the first school since he became San Diego's Catholic leader, his parishioners reflect on their new leadership.
"When I heard Bishop Flores was going to take over I was excited," Steven Sayarot said.
The church feels like they can better relate to the bishop. Good Shepherd members say the bishop has expanded mass at their church and in the diocese to strengthen faith.
"It's not just here but all of San Diego," Sayarot said.
But the bishop is modest about the praise, "I love people and share their joy."
Bishop Flores has been a priest for almost a decade. Before serving in San Diego he was a priest in Orange.