DC-area Catholics celebrate election of first American pope, Leo XIV
DC area worshippers react to election of new pope, Leo XIV
From the nation's capital to Vatican City people around the world are cheering for 69-year-old Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, who is making history as the first pope from the United States. FOX 5 spoke to a number of people at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in D.C., who say they’re excited for the Catholic church’s new chapter with Pope Leo the 14th at the head.
WASHINGTON - The nation’s capital is celebrating a historic moment — the election of the first American pope. Cardinal Robert Prevost has been named Pope Leo XIV.
The selection of Prevost, an American from Chicago, marks a significant chapter in the history of the Catholic Church and an extraordinary milestone for the United States. One that’s brought an overwhelming outpouring of happiness.
At noon mass on Thursday, parishioners at St. Matthews Cathedral in D.C. were shocked and elated when the priest saying mass announced that Cardinal Prevost had been elected as the new pope. The entire cathedral broke out into applause.
READ MORE: Cardinal Robert Prevost elected new Pope Leo XIV: Here's what's next
At the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception — the largest Catholic church building in the U.S. — they hung an American flag and adorned the shrine with bunting in the papal colors of white and gold.
Cardinal Robert Prevost, now Pope Leo the Fourteenth (Vatican)
What they're saying:
The National Shrine and the Catholic University of America sit side by side on the same campus in Northeast D.C., so, as you can imagine, it did not take long for students who’ve been following the conclave closely — the University’s team name is the ‘Cardinals’ after all — to pour out of their dorm rooms and head to the shrines from steps to celebrate this first American pope.
READ MORE: The world reacts to first American pope
"As soon as they said Prevost, I kind of jumped up, and I said, ‘that’s an American!’ And all my friends quickly shut me up so they could here it," one student told FOX 5.
"People keep saying America doesn’t have faith, America doesn’t have faith. We have faith, we are so expected and we love this pope," said another.
DC-area Catholics react to election of first American pope
The nation’s capital celebrated a historic moment Thursday. The election of Cardinal Robert Prevost, an American from Chicago, marks a significant chapter in the history of the Catholic Church and an extraordinary milestone for the United States — one that’s brought an overwhelming outpouring of happiness.
"I never thought we would have an American pope. It’s so cool," said Catholic University student Gavin Goldring.
"I just want to see this joy in the church again," D.C. resident Candice Wilcos told FOX 5.
"I think they’ve selected the best candidate," parishioner Mary Clement added.
An unexpected choice:
Not many papal pundits had mentioned Cardinal Prevost leading up the conclave but Monsignor Ronald Jameson of St. Matthews says that’s why he's the right man for the job.
READ MORE: Here's why there are few non-European pontiffs
"To everyone in our Catholic faith, the pope is central and we turn to him for leadership, we turn to him for guidance and we turn to him to help lead us to the Lord," Jameson said.
What's next:
With the conclave now concluded, the Archbishop of Washington, Cardinal Robert Mcelvoy, will return to Washington along with the Apostolic Nuncio to the United States, Cardinal Christophe Pierre. Basilica officials say the cardinals will hold a "Mass of Thanksgiving" for Pope Leo XIV at the National Shrine in the coming days.