Local Catholics rejoice over announcement of new pope
Pope Leo XIV greets photographers as he welcomes members of the media who covered his election, during a meeting in the Paul VI Audience Hall at the Vatican May 12, 2025. (CNS photo/Lola Gomez)
At the first sign of white smoke billowing from the Sistine Chapel chimney, Father Pedro Martinez rushed to St. Peter’s Square, along with thousands of other pilgrims, to watch history being made.
The diocesan priest, who is in Rome pursuing a licentiate in canon law at Pontifical Gregorian University, was eager to learn who the conclave of 133 cardinals had chosen to lead the Catholic Church. When Cardinal Dominique François Joseph Mamberti emerged on the central loggia balcony May 8 to announce Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, a Chicago-born American, was the new pontiff, Fr. Martinez cheered the news.
“It was a profoundly moving experience to witness Church and world history unfold before my eyes,” the priest explained enthusiastically. “Hearing the pope’s first words in person in St. Peter’s Square felt like hearing the heartbeat of the Church — a living witness to the presence of Christ among us.”
Taking the name Leo XIV, the 69-year-old pope is a member of the Order of St. Augustine, joining the novitiate in 1977. He made his solemn vows in 1981 and was ordained to the priesthood the following year.
During the course of his ministry, Father Prevost spent 20 years at his religious community’s missions in Peru working as parish priest, diocesan official, director of formation, seminary teacher, and judicial vicar. Returning to Chicago to serve the Augustinians as provincial prior and then general prior until 2013, Fr. Prevost traveled back to Peru for a final assignment when Pope Francis made him apostolic administrator of the Diocese of Chiclayo and bishop of Chiclayo in 2015.
Most recently, the late Pope Francis appointed him prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops — a key position within the Roman Curia. On September 30, 2023, Bishop Prevost was elevated to the rank of cardinal. The career missionary holds dual citizenship in both the United States and Peru.
Pope Leo XIV is the first Holy Father born in the United States and the second consecutive pope from the Americas.
“This election serves as a powerful reminder that the Church, though diverse in cultures and languages, is united in Christ,” Fr. Martinez pointed out. “For me, [as] someone shaped by both Mexican and American cultures, it affirms that the Church’s universality is rooted in the truth of Christ, who unites us all in His love and mission.”
A surprising result
Bishop Michael Olson didn’t expect the election of an American pope.
“But I’m very grateful for it,” he told the North Texas Catholic, citing the new pontiff’s strong background in administration and his pastoral formation as a Peruvian missionary. “I think it’s a wonderful combination of what’s shaped him as a human being, Christian, and priest.”
By choosing Leo, an established papal name not used in 122 years, the former cardinal especially honors two inspiring predecessors, Pope Leo XIII and Leo the Great, Bishop Olson observed.
“Leo XIII is the pope who first dealt with the challenges of workers’ rights and the poor beset by the modern age,” he explained. “And Leo the Great was one of the doctors of the Church who taught so much about the nature and centrality of Jesus Christ.”
The leader of North Texas Catholics has never met the new Holy Father but is looking forward to a papal audience planned during a pilgrimage to Rome and Assisi in June. Both men are natives of Chicago who entered different seminaries at age 14.
He asks Catholics in the diocese to pray for the new pope and not judge him by partisan standards.
“As a native Chicagoan and citizen of the United States, I’m proud to welcome the first American pope,” enthused the bishop, whose childhood pastor told him the bishop of Rome would always be Italian. “God surprised us!”
More global than American
Having the first American-born pope is a joy and blessing, but seminarian Paul Trinh believes the missionary’s time in Peru will influence him more than anything else.
“He’s more global and not centered on one country,” said the seminarian who is spending his pastoral year at St. Philip the Apostle Parish in Flower Mound. “Pope Leo XIV doesn’t seem to have strong political ties in the U.S. so he can promote Catholic teaching without any Americanization.”
Trinh, 25, said his family and friends are eager to learn more about the Holy Father who seems young for his age.
“There’s a lot going on in the world, and I pray for him to be a good shepherd,” added the Christ the King parishioner.
Fellow seminarian Trent Barton monitored news coming from the conclave on his computer while working at St. Vincent de Paul Parish in Arlington. The 36-year-old from Seymour is completing his pastoral year in the diocese before returning to the Theological College at Catholic University of America.
“I pray Pope Leo follows the will of God as every successor of Peter has tried to do,” Barton said.
The excitement generated over electing a new pope is something many non-Catholics don’t understand.
“We see the papacy as an incredible gift that Christ gives His Church on Earth,” the seminarian explained. “He blesses us with a leader after His own heart — a descendant of the apostle Peter whom we can turn to in times of need.”
All things are possible
If the election of the first American pope signals anything, it’s this: “God is in control and expect the unexpected,” according to Kiana Krahulik who grew up outside Chicago and now lives in Flower Mound. “My favorite Bible quote is ‘with God, all things are possible,’ so I was pleasantly surprised the first American pope was elected.”
Many people considered Pope Francis the people’s pope and the former St. Thomas the Apostle Parish catechist said the new pontiff seems to project a similar humility and approachability.
“I think Pope Leo very much cares about people and will keep working for the poor while engaging in modern day challenges,” Krahulik added. “Knowing he was a missionary, caring for the less fortunate, is something that may attract young people to the faith.”
The 25-year-old parishioner at St. Philip the Apostle is excited to see what the new pope does for the Church.
“I think he will bring us closer as a community and unite Christians around the world. I hope for peace.”
Meeting a future pope
Christine Messner-Fleishman can brag she not only met a future pope but also received a blessing from him. The former member of the national women’s soccer team was in Arequipa, Peru eight years ago for a wedding when the bridal party decided to tour the historic Monasterio de Santa Catalina.
“The nuns became very excited because missionaries and two priests had arrived giving out food and blessings,” remembered the North Texas Catholic who followed the sisters to the Plaza de Armas.
One of the visitors, a soft-spoken American wearing regular clothes with a Roman collar, was the bishop of Chiclayo, now known as Pope Leo XIV.
“One family brought a sick child with a deformed leg up to him and he gave a blessing,” Messner-Fleishman continued. “Other villagers were thanking him. There was nothing structured about it. He didn’t draw attention to himself but, it was obvious, he was the leader.”
Before leaving, Bishop Prevost offered a blessing to the group of tourists.
“Speaking in Spanish, he hoped we would do well in the future and asked us to help those in need,” she said. “Evil is out there so he told us to be the light in someone’s life.”
A warm, kind smile
There was a mix of nervousness and excitement as Beatrice Ellison waited for white smoke to rise from a distant chimney. The University of Dallas undergraduate spent 14 hours in St. Peter’s Square with friends — their eyes fixed on the antics of seagulls landing on the Sistine Chapel roof.
“When the white smoke finally came out on Thursday [May 8], the crowd began to clap and sing hymns like the Regina Caeli,” she said. “We were giddy.”
Ellison’s patience was rewarded an hour later when newly elected Pope Leo XIV appeared to the applause of 150,000 well-wishers.
“I’ll never forget how emotional Pope Leo looked when he stepped onto the balcony,” said the Irving resident. “His smile and wave were so warm and kind we could really feel that all the way down in the square.”
The English major is pleased an American now sits in the Chair of St. Peter.
“It’s a wonderful thing for the American Catholic Church to have produced a pope since America has been a mostly Protestant nation since its founding,” Ellison explained. “I can only hope for good things to come from the relationship between the Vatican and our country. I see unity and good foreign policy coming from this.”