Americans hope the world will be able to love
Catholics are in the US in a minority.
The text was originally published in The Washington Post.
John McGreevy, a prominent historian of Catholicism at Notre Dame University, first tried to find the right words to express his astonishment for some time.
“Incredible,” he said a few minutes after the Chicago native was Robert Prevost declared a new pope. « These are things you would never think they would become. The American Pope. Amazing. »
For millions of American Catholics, Thursday’s appointment of the American was a source of joy and surprise for the Pope.
Many experts have argued that the position of the United States as a world power is actually excluding that the American play the highest role in the Catholic Church, whose teaching is deeply skeptical about capitalism and individualism – a factor that affects the American nation culture.
Premost – a multilingual American, who also has Peruvian citizenship and spent decades in South America – has now refuted this belief.
For American Catholics, it will be huge pride, said McGreeva. From the point of view of important days in the history of the American Catholic Church, the election of the Passure is definitely the « number one ».
In the article you can read:
- To whom the new Pope is drucking,
- How many Americans are believers,
- What do Americans hope for.
As a victory in the Super Bowle
Vice President JD VANCEwho became a Catholic in 2019 and visited Pope Francis before his death, congratulated the new pontifician who received the name Lev XIV.
« I am sure that millions of American Catholics and other Christians will pray for his successful work at the forefront of the Church, » Vance wrote to X. « May God bless him! »
In Chicago, the hostness of the hometown, the bells sounded in the Cathedral of the Holy Name on Thursday afternoon to celebrate.
Father Gregory Sakowicz, the rector of the cathedral, was distributed on Thursday during the noon of the Mass of the Eucharist, when one of the parishioners stopped him and whispered to him: « It is Cardinal Robert Premost! » Sakowicz said he looked out at that moment and suddenly the sun went out.
Lion XIV. He is the first American on the Papal See. Who is Robert Prevost? Read
At the end of Mass, Sakowicz announced the parishioner newspaper. « The whole place exploded (brightness), » he said. “One would think Chicago Bears won Super Bowl. ”
Sakowicz was surprised and excited about the selection. « It’s a big day for Chicago, the country and the world, » he told reporters. The Pope Lion will be a « uniform ».
He admitted that there could be one area in which the Pope does not coincide. Sakowicz, who himself calls himself a staunch fan of the Chicago White Sox team, heard that the new Pope is a fan of the Chicago Cubs team. « God bless him, » he said with a smile.
Dust’s brother John later refuted this rumor when he said that the new Pope always had chicago White Sox.
Tampered students
For a group of pupils of the sixth year of the Catholic Everest Academy in Lemonte, a regular Thursday trip to the cathedral has changed to a meeting with history. Twelve-year-old pupils dressed in ties and jackets jumped up-down and shouted, « Long live the Pope! »
Among the dozens of people who met in the cathedral was also 48-year-old Frankie Salinas, a lifelong Catholic. « Having an American Pope with a heart from Chicago – it will be good for the Vatican, » Salinas said.
About 20 percent of adult Americans – about 53 million people – are called Catholics, according to the Pew Research Center. In recent decades, American Catholic churches have struggled with the problem of maintaining their congregations.
The percentage of Americans who claim Catholics remained stable only thanks to immigrants, mostly from South America.
Father Kevin Mullins, who lives in San Diego, worked in the seminar along with Zápost. « If a American was to do it, » he said, « he said, noting that the new Pope had spent most of his life outside the United States.
« His first remarks were about peace and justice and building bridges – all that our country and the world need right now, » says Mullins. « No one would deny that our nation is divided and to some extent our church is divided. »
Mullins last saw Postova in 2023 when he became a cardinal. After a festive dinner, Mullins, according to Mullins, behaved « pleasant » as usual.
At the Catholic University of Brookland in Washington, students sucked in a sunny day along with the report of the first US Pope.
Anna Kampia, a lower -year student, was full of enthusiasm. She was already satisfied with what she saw. « I liked one thing very much: as he moved before everyone, » she said. She hinted at Zápost’s Thursday’s short public performance in which he was stewed by tears. « It was already clear how much he liked us. »
Marie Mendozová, a student from Peru, was particularly moved when she saw a Pope who has such deep ties to her native country. His work with poor communities around the Andes Tells about his character, she said.
« I feel that the light of hope, perseverance and optimism will be the light of all those evil things that are now surrounding us, » Mendoz said.
Other students said that they feel a special relationship with the new Pope because he chose the name of the lion. Pope Leo XIII. In 1887 he helped to establish this university, noted Julian Garza, a first year student. « It is very exciting, especially from the American and student’s perspective at this university. »
American with a Latin American heart
Villan’s University, Alma Mater, near Philadelphia, is also proud. « As an Augustinian Catholic institution, we celebrate this important day for our university community and the global church, » wrote Reverend Peter Donohue, Rector of the University.
Susan Timoney, Dean and Professor of the Catholic University, was stuck to her screen on Thursday afternoon along with several colleagues laptop. When white smoke appeared, everyone broke out into joyful applause, but the following announcement was amazed.
Timoney now hopes that the new Pope will continue in the footsteps of the Pope Francis and will help the Church to engage in interviews about immigration and talk about peace.
And although the transfer was born and grew up in the United States, many inhabitants of South America quickly accepted it as their own.
New Pope, new hope? Like a lion XIV. hits world politics (commentary of the editor -in -chief) Read
« Vyspost has an American profile, but I dare to say that he has a Latin American heart, » Father Hernán Quezada, responsible for the education of the Jesuits in Latin America and Latin, told the Mexican ARISTEGUI Noticias daily. Caribbean.
Sixty -five -year -old Betty D’elett lived to a teenage age in New York but later moved to Italy. She was also on St. Peter Square on Thursday.
« God bless America, » she shouted on the phone as the crowd broke her around her. « I was hoping it would be an American! But people told me, » You were going crazy, « said D’Elett, who works in one of the Vatican stores.
When asked how the world will accept the American Pope, D’Elett answered: « I hope (people) will love him. »
