It was a historic day at the Vatican — and here in Kentucky — as the Catholic Church welcomed its first American pontiff.
After two days of voting in the conclave at Vatican City, Cardinal Robert Prevost was elected pope. He will be known as Pope Leo XIV.
Louisville Archbishop Shelton Fabre called it a moment of joy and surprise.
“First and foremost, this is a day of great joy for the Church, a day of particular joy for the Church in the United States,” Fabre said. “But here we are today, and we rejoice with the Church. We rejoice with Pope Leo.”
Although Fabre said he does not personally know Pope Leo XIV, he is familiar with his background. Prevost, who was born in Chicago and attended Villanova University, spent much of his ministry in Peru, where he has dual citizenship, and later became the head of the Vatican’s Dicastery for Bishops.
“So he was responsible for suggesting to the pope those names of men who might be bishops around the world,” Fabre said.
As head of the dicastery, Prevost had the ear of the previous pope and played a significant role in shaping church leadership worldwide.
Fabre said U.S. bishops typically meet with the pope every five years, and he looks forward to the next opportunity to visit Rome under Pope Leo XIV’s leadership.
The archbishop was also moved by the pope’s first public address.
“I think one of the most important things is his first words to the world were, ‘Peace be with you,’” Fabre said. “Those words of Jesus Christ, the morning of the resurrection, as he entered into that upper room with the apostles.”
Fabre said Pope Leo’s emphasis on unity, dialogue and inclusivity sends a strong message to the global Church.
“He emphasized bridge building, he emphasized dialogue, he emphasized inclusivity,” Fabre said. “And I think all of those are very important elements for him.”
A celebration Mass will be held at 6 p.m. Monday at the Cathedral of the Assumption in downtown Louisville.
A full statement from Fabre can be read below:
“I want to extend my prayerful best wishes to Pope Leo XIV, the successor to St. Peter and Vicar of Christ. This is a historical and spiritual moment for the Catholic Church, and for the Church in America as he is the first pope born in the United States. The process of choosing the Holy Father was done with prayer and discernment by the cardinal electors who were led by the Holy Spirit. I rejoice in their decision, and I am filled with hope for the future of the Catholic Church.
I believe Pope Leo XIV will build on the ministry of his predecessors. In his first greeting as Supreme Pontifff, he said, “Peace be with you,” the words of Jesus Christ spoken on Easter morning. He then shared that he wants to build bridges, to dialogue and to be inclusive, which speaks to how he will lead the People of God.
Please join me in praying for Pope Leo XIV as he begins his new Petrine Ministry. May God grant him the strength and leadership to strengthen the unity of the Church and to advance peace in our world.
I invite you to join me for a Mass of Thanksgiving for Pope Leo XIV on Monday, May 12 at 6 p.m. at the Cathedral of the Assumption. Together, we will lift up the Holy Father with our prayers as he starts his papacy.”
Local religious leaders, organizations reaction to new pope
Pope Leo XIV reportedly shares a lot of the same values as Pope Francis did, such as supporting poor and marginalized communities. While ministering in Peru, he showed great concern for Venezuelan migrants there.
Support organizations like Catholic Charities said that concern is needed, and for them, it reinforces the importance of their work locally as they help immigrants and refugees make a new home here in Louisville.
“When the pope is someone who’s vocally supportive of this group of people, it helps us to feel more invigorated in our work and also reminds local Catholics of our responsibility to care for those who are most vulnerable,” Alison Voit, Catholic Charities Director of Migration and Refugee Services, said.
Pope Leo XIV was elected in two days after four ballots. Five of the last six conclaves have elected a pope in three days or less.
For Indianapolis Archbishop Charles Thompson, that means the cardinals are on the same page in what they’re looking for.
“It shows, I think, the great unity of the cardinals being together focused on what they felt was needed in the next pope, I think those are some exciting signs for what’s in store for us,” Thompson said.
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