Tears swelled in Nancy Eder鈥檚 eyes when she found out Robert F. Prevost was elected as the Vatican鈥檚 first American pope and would take the name Leo XIV.
On May 8, Prevost walked out of the loggia of St. Peter鈥檚 Basilica in Rome, dressed in papal regalia and insignia. On the same day, Eder鈥檚 grandson 鈥� also named Leo 鈥� decided to wear a suit in celebration of his 14th birthday.
鈥淚鈥檓 just delighted that the pope has been chosen and that it鈥檚 an American pope, which is truly unbelievable,鈥� Eder, a devout Fort Worth Catholic who from Pope Francis prior to his death in April, said.
Eder is one of many laypeople around the world celebrating the announcement of the Roman Catholic Church鈥檚 267th pope on the second day of the papal conclave.
鈥淧eace be with all of you,鈥� Prevost said in Italian May 8, his first public words as Pope Francis鈥� successor. He spoke in Spanish during his address, emphasizing a message of peace, dialogue and missionary evangelization, according to
Who is Pope Leo XIV?
Robert F. Prevost, 69, was born in Chicago, Illinois, to parents of French, Italian and Spanish descent, according to Vatican News, the official 鈥渘ews portal of the Holy See.鈥�
Before the late Pope Francis made Prevost a cardinal last year, the missionary spent a majority of his clerical life ministering in Peru, where he also holds . He served as bishop of Chiclayo, a city in Peru, from 2015 to 2023.
Pope Leo XIV greets the world for the first time to grant his Urbi et Orbi blessing. Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost was elected as the 267th Successor of Peter by the 133 Cardinal electors on Thursday, May 8.
— Vatican News (@VaticanNews)
Prevost previously served in other leadership roles in the Catholic Church under Francis, such as the prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops and the president of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America.
Prevost has been described by colleagues as representing a 鈥渄ignified middle of the road鈥� when it comes to divisive issues within the church, according to . He has previously expressed for outreach to migrants and the poor, as well as concern about .
Fort Worth Catholic leaders, laity celebrate
As an American religious leader who spent his priesthood in South America, Pope Leo XIV has a 鈥済rasp of two distinct but yet strong cultures that influence our life as the church in the United States, here in Texas especially,鈥� said Fort Worth Catholic Bishop Michael Olson.
Olson, like the new pope, served as a young seminarian and priest in the suburbs of Chicago. Aside from their differing opinions on Chicago baseball teams 鈥� Olson is a proud White Sox fan and Pope Leo XIV reportedly cheers for the Chicago Cubs 鈥� he is 鈥渏oyful and I鈥檓 grateful for this moment,鈥� Olson said.
鈥淗e鈥檚 lived that experience as a pastor, and that is so invaluable for us in this world today that is so fragmented by wars and by polarization,鈥� Olson said. 鈥淗opefully he will serve as a catalyst for the church in the United States, all of us to be servant leaders for the gospel in the world today.鈥�
The Rev. Msgr. Joseph S. Scantlin of the Most Blessed Sacrament Church in Arlington said he has followed several papal elections in his lifetime. He described Pope Leo XIV鈥檚 appointment as 鈥渁 very good fit.鈥�
鈥淚t鈥檚 going to be a new thing, but I think a very good thing,鈥� Scantlin said. 鈥淲hat an honor to have somebody from our country be chosen for that office to serve the whole world as the spiritual leader.鈥�
Catholic Charities Fort Worth CEO and President Michael Iglio said the nonprofit 鈥渏oyfully welcomes鈥� the new pontiff. Among , the organization , distributing hundreds of millions in federal funds intended to support people resettling across the state.
鈥淲e pray for his leadership and reaffirm our commitment to serve the poor and vulnerable with compassion, guided by faith and hope as we relentlessly work to end poverty, one family at a time,鈥� Iglio said in a statement.
Kasey Whitley, Catholic Charities Fort Worth鈥檚 director of parish social ministry, said it was 鈥渞eally special鈥� when Prevost chose the name Leo, which she views as a nod to Pope Leo XIII鈥檚 work the poor and workers rights.
鈥淚 felt like that sent a message that our new pope was going to have a real special care and concern for the poor,鈥� Whitley said. 鈥淎nd that was a very hopeful message.鈥�
Marissa Greene is a Report for America corps member, covering faith for the Fort Worth Report. You can contact her at marissa.greene@fortworthreport.org or on Twitter . At the Fort Worth Report, news decisions are made independently of our board members and financial supporters. Read more about our editorial independence policy .
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