–As Young American Catholics Celebrate
IPNEWS: Cardinal Robert Prevost has been elected as the first US-born pontiff and will be known as Pope Leo XIV. Leo made his first remarks as pope from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica in front of tens of thousands of onlookers, calling for peace and paying tribute to the late Pope Francis.
Pope Leo XIV , a 69-year-old from Chicago, is a leader with global experience. He spent much of his career as a missionary in South America and holds dual citizenship in the US and Peru, where he served as a bishop. He most recently led a powerful Vatican office for bishop appointments. He is expected to build on Pope Francis’ reforms.
The pope’s election prompted an outpouring of congratulations from world leaders, who expressed eagerness to work with the pontiff on global issues. US President Donald Trump called the historic selection a great honor for the country.
Meanwhile, young seminarians in robes to college students in shorts and T-shirts, the gathering in front of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, DC, was energetic and joyful Thursday, with the election of American Robert Prevost as Pope Leo XIV.
A Catholic University freshman had poignant words, when asked what kind of Pope he wanted Leo XIV to be.
“We definitely need a reformer,” he said. “We really need unity and peace right now in the church … I think it’s great that he’s from America because we need a world figure like that from America to spread the true meaning of Christ’s gospel around the world.”
The young crowd was gathered at the foot of the largest Catholic church in the US, which the Basilica says is visited by about 1 million people a year. The facility draped yellow and white “papal bunting” on each entrance and a huge American flag on the bell tower after word came of Leo XIV’s election.
CNN spoke to a student at Catholic University who just converted to Catholicism around Easter.
Austin Morris, from Ellicott City, Maryland, was forthcoming on what he’d like Pope Leo to achieve, calling for him to eschew church politics.
“I want kindness,” Morris said. “I feel like a lot of people want a pope in their corner. They want a pope that’s more conservative. Or they want a pope that’s more progressive. I don’t really care politically what corner the pope is in. I care that the pope is in Christ’s corner.” –
