CHAMPAIGN — Catholics in Champaign felt a mix of shock, joy, and optimism for the future following the election of the first pope from the United States — and from Illinois.
Cardinal Robert Prevost grew up in the Chicago area before spending years in Peru as a minister and later archbishop. The College of Cardinals selected him at the Vatican Thursday as he took on the title of Pope Leo XIV.
Father Andru O’Brien, a Catholic chaplain at The High School of Saint Thomas More, said he did not expect to see a pope from the U.S. in his lifetime.
“Our students came in from outside during lunch, chanting ‘USA’ after they saw the break of the news,” O’Brien said. “There is a definite pride in seeing that the Holy Father is from Chicago.
“[He] probably does not put ketchup on his hot dogs, and we thank him for that.”
O’Brien said Pope Leo’s upbringing also means that students feel they have a lot in common with the new pontiff. He thinks that shared background could be an inspiration to students.
“It shows us we can sacrifice some of our luxury too, in solidarity and outreach to those that need our love and need to experience the Lord through us,” he said.
At The High School of Saint Thomas More, students were full of excitement the day after the election.
Heading into the conclave, senior Nici Alcaraz was hoping a fellow Filipino would be chosen — Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle.
“But it’s kind of funny, because instead of having the Filipino pride from him winning, I now have the Illinois — because the new one’s from Chicago. So I was like, ‘Okay, still a win.’”
The students were also hopeful that Pope Leo could provide some relief to social and political issues in the U.S. and worldwide.
Alvaraz said she’s worried about global conflicts, including tensions between India and Pakistan, the war between Russia and Ukraine and Israel’s military campaign in Gaza.
Her classmate, senior Mary Kathryn Kluesner, said she hopes the pope will work to oppose abortions.
“Maybe working with President Trump … and help with those policies to make it more effective and just push it through all Catholics, because that’s something that people shouldn’t be in the middle on. Every Catholic should be pro-life.”
Father Lee Brokaw is the director and head chaplain at Saint John’s Catholic Newman Center at the University of Illinois. He said it’s difficult to compare Pope Leo to his predecessors and expects him to carve out his own vision.
Brokaw said he doesn’t think the new pontiff will lean heavily in a progressive or conservative direction — and that he will rely on his experience as a missionary to guide the church.
“I think this Holy Father is going to be somebody that’s going to … remain firmly rooted in tradition of the church, the teachings of the Catholic Church that are rooted in 2000 years,” Brokaw said. “But he’s also going to be looking at … what do we need right now to effectively proclaim the gospel in a world that’s unique from previous years?”