The election of a new Pope is always a moment of unique focus and nervous excitement for Catholics and many others worldwide. The Pope is the leader of the Catholic Church and its 1.4 billion believers worldwide. Still, he is also an international moral authority for more than just Catholics and the head of the Vatican City State, the smallest country in the world in terms of both population and size, yet not in terms of importance.
Pope Leo XIV, formerly Robert Francis Cardinal Prevost, was born in Chicago, Illinois, the first Pope of American birth. His biography within the Church began when he became an Augustinian friar in 1977 and was ordained as a priest in 1982. His service includes extensive missionary work in Peru during the 1980s and 1990s. He was elected prior general of the Order of Saint Augustine in 2001 and served until 2013. He then returned to Peru as Bishop of Chiclayo from 2015 to 2023. It was just in 2023 that Pope Francis appointed him prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops, appointed him president of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America, and made him a cardinal.
All that is well and good, but what do our local priests know about the new Pope, and what are their perspectives and insights on who he is? Pastor Chris Koehn says the priests are just as engaged in selecting any new Pope, if not more. “Monsignor John Wall, Monsignor Don Staib, Fr. Tom Fraser, and I discuss and follow the news of the church during our regular Tuesday dinners. The editor of Crux, the church news website, had Cardinal Prevost on the short list for being selected Pope and ran a great article on May 1st.” Of course, the Conclave proper to elect a new Pope began on May 7th.
Father Chris adds, “His work as a Superior General for the Augustinians and then being the Prefect for Bishops put Pope Leo in contact with bishops and cardinals worldwide, and this experience seemed to solidify his appeal to the Conclave. The peacefulness and cordiality of his personality in performing his work also brought him to the minds of the other cardinals. Like all of us, we will be known for our character and spirit in doing our daily duties. We also noted that Cardinal Prevost was seen as having a global perspective, not just an American one. Two-thirds of his life has been in service to the church in Peru and Italy.”
Father Jim Sabak agrees. “He’s an American, but he was a missionary bishop. When you are a missionary, you ‘go native’ because you have to, so you’re able to understand, assist, and guide the people. He did become naturalized as a Peruvian, and I’m not sure it would’ve ‘worked’ otherwise.” “He was a ‘dark horse’ candidate,” added Father Jim, “and not high on many lists.” “However,” he points out, “Shannon Hoffman (the Parish administrative assistant) picked him!” From Father Jim’s perspective, the fact that he is a ‘Vatican outsider,’ and only made a cardinal two years ago, makes him untouched by a lot of the papal intrigue. “We have never had a missionary bishop as a Pope,” he says, “so he may bring a fresh viewpoint and perspective to things.”
Of course, Catholics seek insights into the new Pope as a person and as the leader of the Church, but where can they turn? Of course, Father Chris recommends the Crux, but he also recommends following the midday Angelus reflections (in Easter season, Regina Caeli) as a way to get some insight into Pope Leo XIV. “The daily brief reflections are how we got to know Pope Francis more deeply. Just like with the strong relationships we have, the daily small things let us know so much about each other. It is easy to follow at Vatican News.”
Father Jim offers caution: “What not to do is read things on social media, and do not read any books on him which will be published in the next three months; not a lot of research time to do that! I think it is essential to recognize that there will be those who like him and those who do not, and both will do everything in their power to discredit the opposing camp. This same ‘conflict’ happened with Pope Francis and social media.” He says, “It might be interesting to look up Chiclayo, the city in Peru where he was bishop for many years, and to see what can offer insight into what Pope Leo did there.”
“The selection of the Pope,” says Father Chris, “captures the world’s attention, because the world, believers and non-believers, are looking for good. There were 11,000 journalists in Rome to cover the selection of the new Pope. That tops all story coverage in the world. The thirst for goodness and love is that elemental to us as humans. Father Jim adds, “I think the selection of a pope is important in one way, in the idea of a leader who can envision a way forward. However, it is now more of an interest and novelty outside of the Catholic Church. These perspectives bring some confusion for ‘those who think every word he utters is sacred,’ and then ‘those who will question everything he says because he thinks differently than they do.’” Jim worries, “Some feel that we need someone holy in our lives because we do not see ourselves as holy, but that’s a lot to put on a Pope to live up to those expectations.”
“Will he carry forth Francis’ vision?” asks Father Jim. “Well, one of the things you need to ask is how well Francis himself was able to carry forth his vision?” “There is a lot of speculation, based upon trivial observations,” he says. “Leo came out on the balcony in papal regalia, not the simple white cassock as Francis did; Francis just said “good evening” before going into the blessings, while Leo was more scripted and a bit more formal. The truth is, it remains unclear.” As always, though, Father Jim holds out hope. Father Chris adds hope by pointing out, “Many of the cardinals who have given interviews since the Conclave have expressed their solidarity in continuing Pope Francis’ path.” He also says, “We are so fortunate here in the Diocese of Raleigh to have Bishop Luis, who met with Pope Francis many times and embodied the spirit of Pope Francis in our work to bring Jesus Christ to the people. Pope Leo’s selection of the name of Leo XIV indicates that same spirit will continue, taking our church out to the people, especially those in need.”
We all have hope, as Catholic Christians, that our Church and its leadership will be the voice for the dispossessed and the poor and remain a beacon of light in the world. Pope Leo offers an opportunity to continue and expand upon that hope, and we all pray for his and the Church’s success in realizing her mission, exemplified by Jesus’ demonstrated love for all of us.
