HOUSTON -- After a big announcement and a very busy Thursday, Archbishop Daniel DiNardo stopped by St. Peter United Church of Christ to congratulate an old friend on his special honor, KPRC Local 2 reported.

The Rev. David Mason was officially installed as the new pastor of the church in northwest Houston.

"We wish Daniel the best and we will keep him in our prayers," said Mason.

DiNardo said being appointed as a cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church by Pope Benedict XVI was humbling and surprising.

"I'm very excited about it. I still don't know exactly what it entails, but I'm glad to have Houston's support," said DiNardo.

Many from the Catholic and non-Catholic community congratulated DiNardo and said they were proud that he would be the first cardinal from Texas.

"We are excited and pleased he'll be representing us at the Vatican," one woman said.

A student at St. Anne's Catholic Church hoped she could visit him in Rome one day.

"Maybe one day he'll be the pope," the student said.

While DiNardo will be traveling back and forth from Rome, he said he still has many plans for Houston.

"This is my major priority. I will continue to shepherd the Galveston-Houston area," said DiNardo.

DiNardo will be leaving on Nov. 23 for a special ceremony at the Vatican.