Watching the live broadcast of the announcement of Pope Leo XIV, Msgr. Paul F. deLadurantaye was listening closely to decipher the chosen cardinal’s name.
“Of course, they do it in Latin, so he said his first name, ‘Roberto,’ ” said Msgr. deLadurantaye, diocesan chancellor. “And I thought to myself, there’s only a few cardinals that I know of named Robert, I can think of four. And then they said, ‘Franciscan’ — and I thought — ‘That’s it. It’s Cardinal Prevost’ — ‘Wow’ — they went with someone from the U.S.”
Like millions of Catholics, Father Christopher P. Christensen, pastor of St. Rita Church in Alexandria, was surprised. “Absolutely shocked,” he said. “I was not expecting an American pope at all. It’s very exciting to have an American pope, something that we obviously haven’t had before. And so all eyes are looking to him to see how he is going to lead the church in ways in which he’ll be similar to Pope Francis and ways in which he’ll be different — to carve out the path that God is leading him on.”
During Msgr. deLadurantaye’s tenure as an English interpreter at the Vatican Secretariat of State 2018-24, the former Cardinal Prevost visited Villa Stritch, the Vatican’s living quarters for U.S. priests. “Cardinal Prevost came for Thanksgiving Day Mass and dinner with us all,” he said. “That was the time I met him and I also periodically would see him in the apostolic palace if I were going to translate for Pope Francis.”
Msgr. deLadurantaye said he was struck by the words of Pope Leo XIV when he stepped onto the loggia to greet the world. “It’s great to focus on the missionary outreach as he mentioned in his words from St. Peter’s balcony,” he said. “When he talked about the meaning of the word pontiff as a bridge builder, between God and humanity and even within humanity, I think those are all great signs.”
“My prayer is really the same that it’s been over the course of these last several weeks,” said Father Christensen. “The liturgy that we pray, the Mass for a new pope, speaks of asking for a shepherd who’s pleasing to the divine majesty. And that’s really what we go for, what we desire.”
Bishop Michael F. Burbidge thanked God for the news of Pope Leo XIV: “With profound gratitude to Almighty God, I join the universal Church in thanksgiving for Pope Leo XIV. As the Bishop of Rome and Successor of St. Peter, our Holy Father is for the entire world the visible principle of Christian unity. I encourage everyone in our families, parishes and schools to offer prayers, sacrifices, and works of charity for Pope Leo XIV and his intentions.”
A Mass of Thanksgiving for Pope Leo XIV will take place at the Cathedral of St. Thomas More in Arlington May 12 at 12:05 p.m. “Through this celebration of the holy Eucharist, we can support our Holy Father in a special way, asking Almighty God to grant that he may always bear witness to the truth, joy, and beauty of the Gospel with courage, steadfastness, and wisdom,” said Bishop Burbidge.
“A perfect choice for our world and church at this time,” said Msgr. Robert C. Cilinski, pastor of Nativity Catholic Church in Burke. “Our school children cheered when they saw the American flag being held by well-wishers in the vast crowd in St. Peter’s square. Knowing that an American had been chosen as pope made them very proud. In taking the name Leo XIV, he reminds us of the church’s social teaching, the dignity of the human person and our solidarity as members of the human family. His personal ministry as a priest and bishop represents the church’s presence here and throughout the world in serving the poor and needy.”
Reaction in the pew was swift and enthusiastic.
“I’m at noon Mass at Nativity Church in Burke. Just as Msgr. Bob Cilinski finished the offertory, the sun came out and the whole sanctuary lit up,” said Cathy Bergeron. “I thought the light of the world. I delighted in it, and just a minute later Monsignor was distracted by the school principal who came halfway down (the aisle) and gave him a sign, and he announced, ‘We have white smoke.’ The awed silence was palpable.
“What a beautiful way to go into the consecration and celebration of the whole church,” she said. “Praise be to God!
As the Mass concluded and Msgr. Cilinski went down the aisle, Bergeron said, “He greeted everyone and said it was wonderful that we were all together when the news came.”
Msgr. deLadurantaye said that it was significant that Pope Leo XIV, who is the first Augustinian to be pope, quoted St. Augustine in his address. “What he cited was Augustine’s saying, ‘With you, I am a Christian and for you, I am a bishop,’ ” he said. “So, I think the cardinals appreciated the fact that he would say that. To me he meant that he sees himself fundamentally as a disciple of Christ and then one who has been called to serve others, to give his life and service to the sheep.”
Contributing to this story was Ann M. Augherton.
This story was updated.
