We have a Pope! Pope Leo XIV, formerly Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost born in Chicago, a midwesterner. According to the Vatican News in his biography, “The first Augustinian Pope, Leo XIV is the second Roman Pontiff – after Pope Francis – from the Americas.”

As I watched Pope Leo come out and address the people not only at St. Peter’s Square but all over the world the emotions were seen on his face. From humility, joy, the unknown future and the reality of the moment. At one point he was standing there and you could see the moisture in his eyes and then the big sigh.

I had to smile as the two Cardinals standing to the left of him were beaming with delight, large smiles and laughter. Someone had reported that usually this was a somber time. Why, I thought to myself, for we have a new pope to lead us into the future. It seemed right to be joyous. As they shared their joy it seemed as if they were letting us know that with the help of the Holy Spirit this election was meant to be. I was pleasantly surprised to see his middle name Francis. It gave me hope that what Pope Francis started might continue.

In Pope Leo XIV’s first message to the world, he said, with gratitude to the late Pope Francis:

“So, let us move forward, without fear, together, hand in hand with God and with one another! We are followers of Christ. Christ goes before us. The world needs his light. Humanity needs him as the bridge that can lead us to God and his love. Help us, one and all, to build bridges through dialogue and encounter, joining together as one people, always at peace.”

What were your thoughts and feelings when the white smoke came and the name was announced?

May the Lord bless Pope Leo XIV!

– Sr. Barb Knauf

Image courtesy of Edgar Beltrán / The Pillar, CC BY-SA 4.0

<https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons