On May 8, as soon as the white smoke poured out of the chimney atop the Sistine Chapel, the world was abuzz about who was going to become our next Holy Father. A little more than an hour later, when Cardinal Dominique Mamberti emerged from the balcony in St. Peter’s Square to make the announcement, he spoke the name in Latin: “Robertum Franciscum Prevost,” signaling the surprising news that for the first time in history, the Church had elected a pope from the United States.
In the days since this historic election, Catholic Extension Society has spoken with and heard from people who personally know the Holy Father.
His cardinal electors are ecstatic!
This conclave was the first for Cardinal Blase Cupich, chancellor of Catholic Extension Society (below, far left). As an American cardinal elector and the archbishop of Pope Leo XIV’s hometown of Chicago, Cardinal Cupich proudly spoke about his friend and colleague. Soaking in this historical moment, he told CNN, “He’s a good friend. I’m just thrilled.”
Cardinal Cupich hit the airwaves to help explain the kind of person our Holy Father is, and how that will impact his pontificate.
First, he sees the pope as a unifier and a peace builder, saying: “He wanted to make sure that we as a Church presented to the world the opportunity to bring a kind of peace that begins in each one of our hearts. We do see, as Pope Francis said, a world war that’s being fought piecemeal. And so my hope would be that he would be an agent of peace, looking for ways in which humanity can be challenged, to look for ways in which the differences that we have can be resolved in a peaceful way.
“You know, the other thing that comes to mind here is that the cardinals came to a decision in just 24 hours. Here we were, over 130 men representing over 70 nations, and we were able, despite all of the differences that we have in language and culture, to come to a decision in a unified way. Hopefully, that is a sign that the world also can work out its difficulties and differences in a way that’s peaceful and that unites humanity.” (CBS, “Face the Nation”)
To build peace, you must build bridges. Cardinal Cupich sees Pope Leo XIV as eminently capable of doing that, given his unique life experiences around the globe—which included his many years serving in Peru, pictured below.
Cardinal Cupich also said, “He takes seriously the fact that he is the pontifex—a bridge builder. He sees that as so very important; rather than building walls that separate us, you build bridges. I think that is something that he has done his whole life as a missionary. Because he’s had to, himself personally, build a bridge with people that were unknown to him and learn their language. He’s learned not only Spanish but also some of the local languages of the Peruvian people. So he knows what it takes to build bridges because he’s done it personally. And I think he can use that as a road map for the rest of us.” (ABC News, “This Week”)
Cardinal Cupich believes that Pope Leo XIV’s upbringing in a working-class community will serve him well on the global stage. “He’s somebody who’s going to work hard. Being a South Sider of Chicago, I think that’s part of the culture that he was raised in.”
He continued,
I think that people are going to see a very direct leadership that is not afraid to take on challenges and address serious issues, but to do it in a way that is intellectually honest because he is a very authentic person.”
Cardinal Robert McElroy of the Archdiocese of Washington agrees that Pope Leo will be a leader who remains true to his core convictions and values. While steeped in the vision of his predecessor, Pope Francis, we shouldn’t expect Pope Leo XIV to be exactly the same. “I believe Pope Leo will not be a photocopy of Pope Francis,” he said. Rather, the new pope brings his own talents and pastoral style, and will certainly build upon the legacy of his predecessors while carrying forward the mission of the Church.
McElroy added, “I do believe he’ll be just as genuine. He’ll have a different manner in expressing that and bringing the Gospel to the Church.”
A global perspective
At a press conference the day after Pope Leo XIV was elected, many of the American cardinals noted that the new pope is a missionary.
He served as bishop for many years in Peru and traveled the world. We should expect that these experiences will influence him just as much (if not more) than the fact that he was born and raised in America.
To that point, Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, archbishop emeritus of Galveston-Houston, said, “He’s really a citizen of the entire world since he has spent so much of his life and ministry and missionary work and zeal for Christ in South America. He was also privileged to be the head of his religious order. … He’s American, yes, and yes, he represents the big, big picture of the Church.”
Cardinal Wilton Gregory, archbishop emeritus of Washington, added, “Cardinal Prevost, in his life, has been at his core a missionary in every way. … And in a very real sense, we are in the city of the great missionaries of Christianity. Peter and Paul … they each became missionary at their core and came to this place of Rome and gave their lives. I believe that is what Cardinal Prevost, now [Pope] Leo, is doing and is at the heart of who he is and who he’ll be in the life of the Church.”
Growing into his new role
Cardinal Joseph Tobin, archbishop of Newark, understands that nothing can quite prepare a person for the ministry that Pope Leo XIV has just embarked on. And so, he is praying for his friend “Bob” and described the moment when it became clear that he was about to be elected pope. Cardinal Tobin believes the choice was certainly made with the backing of the Holy Spirit.
“We were not simply calling on the forces that were within that room. We were remembering that it’s the Holy Spirit who brings the Church to God, and it’s the Holy Spirit who makes reconciliation possible. … I took a look at Bob, because his name had been floating around, and he had his head in his hands. And I was praying for him, because I couldn’t imagine what happens to a human being when they face something like that. And then when he accepted it, it was like he was made for it.”
Cardinal Timothy Dolan, archbishop of New York, expressed his utmost confidence that Cardinal Prevost was up to the task to becoming Pope Leo. “He’s a new person. He’s our Holy Father. He’s the successor of Peter, he’s the father of the Church Universal,” Cardinal Dolan said. “Where he comes from: [That’s] secondary.”
He is genuine
Those who have known the new pope closely for many years describe someone who is absolutely genuine. What you see is what you get.
That is what Catholic Extension Society’s vice chancellor, Gerald Kicanas, bishop emeritus of Tucson, Arizona, told us. He and Pope Leo XIV have known each other for over 30 years. Kicanas has corresponded frequently with the pope, including in the first days following his election as our new pontiff. Kicanas shared the exchange below on social media.
Of Pope Leo XIV, Kicanas said, “He’s a very genuine person—there’s nothing flashy about him. He’s a great listener. When you’re with him he gives you his full attention. He’s very personable. He’s decisive—when he makes up his mind he’s going to do what he thinks is best. His genuineness, simplicity and humility comes through. He’ll be a wonderful pope.”
Those who knew the pope while he served in Peru also speak of an approachable pastor. While in Rome for the conclave, our president, Father Jack Wall, met with Sister Yvonne Castillo—a Peruvian nun from the Augustinian Daughters of the Most Holy Savior who has long known Pope Leo XIV.
She said: “I grew up with the Augustinian fathers from Chiclayo in my village. The memory I have of Father Prevost is that he has been a very humble person—very dedicated to the people of God. We share beautiful memories in Chiclayo. He has been a testament of a true pastor—very humble, very thoughtful, observant and a great, great listener. On the days that I would come to his community, Tuesdays and Fridays, I have been fortunate to have lunch with him.”
Sister Yvonne concluded on Pope Leo XIV’s election,
I honestly felt emotional, and I cried because I was able to feel through the tears of our new pope this awareness of everything that awaits him as shepherd not just of a small group of villages, but a shepherd for all faithful around the globe.”
‘We know who he is’
Catholic Extension Society supported Father Ray Flores when he was based in the Diocese of Las Cruces, New Mexico, first as a seminarian and later as a priest ministering to university students. The Augustinian priest is now the pastor at New Lenox’s St. Jude Catholic Church in suburban Chicago, where fellow Augustinian, Pope Leo XIV, visited less than eight months prior to his election to the papacy.
In fact, one of the pope’s older brothers, John, is a parishioner at Father Flores’ church. The two traveled together to Rome in 2023 for the consistory when the younger Prevost was elevated to cardinal.
Jokingly, they said to one another if Cardinal Prevost ever becomes the pope, they should go. And then, less than two years later, he appeared on the balcony at St. Peter’s. “Oh my goodness, it’s Bob Prevost,” Father Flores recalled to his parishioners in a homily at St. Jude’s. “It is a surreal experience, I think for all of us, because in a real way we know who he is.”
The next day, Father Flores was on his way to Rome with the new pope’s brother, John. When they arrived, Pope Leo XIV invited them to accompany him on his first visits outside the Vatican—which included the Shrine of Our Mother of Good Counsel in Genazzano, a special place for the Augustinian community. Father Flores is pictured with Pope Leo XIV below.
“It was an incredibly beautiful experience, there are simply no words to describe the feelings of gratitude and thanksgiving for having been able to be here and to participate in these extraordinary days of grace and blessings,” Father Flores said to his parishioners.
And of the election of his fellow Augustinian, he said, “Pope Leo is a man of great faith, who models an approach that’s both simple and profound. The simplicity of Jesus’ good news is rooted in his approach and is evident in the way in which he shares this message of hope, grounded in his Augustinian values of truth, unity and love.”
Viva il papa!
It is clear there is a feeling of global joy centered around Pope Leo XIV’s election and this historic moment for our Church and world. At Catholic Extension Society, we feel especially privileged to follow a Holy Father who invites us to join together in a unified Church, to serve the poor, and to advocate for peace.
Father Flores, after his remarkable experience journeying with his fellow Augustinian brother in his first days as Pope Leo XIV, brought back a special message the new Holy Father recorded for the parishioners at St. Jude’s. It is one we can all now proudly follow as we begin the pontificate of Pope Leo XIV.
“I’m very happy to send not only greetings, but a message of faith and encouragement to all of you—especially the young people—that you be strong in your faith, that you not be afraid to respond to the Lord, and that you are always generous in trying to serve others and looking towards loving God just as God loves you,” Pope Leo XIV said.
Catholic Extension Society works in solidarity with people to build up vibrant and transformative Catholic faith communities among the poor in the poorest regions of America. Support out mission!
