ROME (CBS) — Cardinal Francis George spoke with CBS 2′s Chief Correspondent Jay Levine in his first public comments since the election of Pope Francis.

Cardinal George indicated that the selection of Cardinal Bergoglio was something of a surprise.

“There was a lot of consideration given to many different people and all of a sudden a name that everybody knew but hadn’t been right at the forefront came and we started to talk seriously,” Cardinal George said.

Cardinal George described him as a “Good choice.”

“He is a very straightforward man and he has a heart for the poor,” George said. “And consequently, he gets in trouble sometimes, he got in trouble with his own government he has been in trouble with religious people as well because he stays very close to the poor and that is a sign that you are listening to the lord.”

When asked to compare this conclave to the one eight years ago when Pope Benedict was elected, George said, ““This was a little more talkative conclave than it was eight years ago, people talked a little bit more amongst themselves.

Francis Cardinal George also appreciated Cardinal Bergoglio’s choice to be named Pope Francis.

“Now in Chicago at Mass we will pray for Francis our pope and Francis our bishop,” he said.