Catholics in the U.S. react to Pope Leo XIV’s election
(CBS, KYMA/KECY) - Catholics across the world are still celebrating the election of a new pope, and in the U.S., his election marks a special moment since it is the first U.S. born Pope ever.
Pope Leo XIV is the first U.S. born pontiff to lead the Catholic Church, and enthusiasm over his election is evident among many American faithful, including American seminarians in Rome.
"I'm still processing it...it's just wild," said one seminarian.
Robert Francis Prevost was born and raised in Dolton, Illinois, a suburb just south of Chicago.
In the Windy City, Bishop Larry Sullivan spoke following a special mass to mark the moment saying, "The fact that we can celebrate that he's from Chicago just gives us another opportunity to really feel very close and connected to him."
Prevost is the youngest of three boys. Louis Prevost is one of his older brothers.
"He's a cardinal. Now, he's a pope. To me, he's my little brother. If I get to see him again, I'm gonna treat him like I treat my little brother I until somebody slaps me and says, 'You can't talk to the pope like that,'" Prevost joked.
On his first full day as pope, Leo XIV celebrated mass and spoke, in English, of the great responsibility he bears as leader of the church.
"You have called me to carry that cross and to be blessed with that mission," the pope said.
The mission will include mending divisions within the church as he ushers in a new era for the church, one made in America.
The newly-elected Pope is set to formally meet with the Cardinals who elected him Saturday, and he will deliver his first Sunday noon blessing from the main balcony of St. Peter's Basilica the next day.
