Riverdale Catholics voice hopes for Pope Leo XIV’s papacy

Churchgoers leaving their first Sunday Mass since Pope Robert Francis Prevost’s papacy began reflected on his election and hopes for his leadership.

White smoke billowed from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel on May 8, signaling the end of the conclave – a centuries-old tradition in which 133 cardinal electors cast their votes in secrecy to select a new head of the Catholic Church. The smoke, produced by burning ballots with a colored chemical mixture, drew thousands to St. Peter’s Square in Rome in anticipation of the reveal.

“It’s always exciting when you’re waiting for the new pope to come out – like who is it?” Edwin said, a member of St. John’s Visitation Parish, who asked not to share his last name. “It’s the anxiety of not knowing who they picked yet.”

Emerging on the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica as Leo XIV, Prevost began his inaugural address with the words “peace be with you.”

Born on the South Side of Chicago in 1955, the 69-year-old pope was ordained in 1982. He went on to lead the Order of Saint Augustine, a religious community founded in the 13th century.

The 247th pope spent more than a decade in Peru, first arriving in 1985 as a missionary. After roughly 15 years, he returned to his hometown to head the Augustine order. In 2014, he returned to the South American country, earning his Peruvian citizenship the following year. His leadership there, particularly in communities affected by poverty and violence, helped elevate his platform in Rome. 

In 2023, Pope Francis appointed him to lead the Vatican's Congregation for Bishops, a major role in overseeing the selection of bishops worldwide.

His tenure as the first pope from North America marks a historic moment in the Catholic Church's nearly 2,000-year-old history. Leo XIV is the first American to serve in this role, making his selection a surprise for many. Juana, a congregant of The Church of St. Margaret of Cortona burst into laughter and said she was “flabbergasted” at the pick.

His installment ended 16 pope-less days at the Vatican following the death of Pope Francis in April.

“For [more than] two weeks we were like sheep without a shepherd,” Father Timothy Buman of St. Margaret’s recalled. “Church leaders like myself, we were not praying for an African pope. We were not praying for a European or Italian or American pope. What we prayed for is a man after God’s own heart – a true shepherd.”

Catholics in Riverdale expressed hope that Leo XIV will carry on Francis’ mission of compassion and justice. Edwin said he looks for a leader who “follows in Francis’ shoes and legacy,” while Joanne from St. Margaret has her fingers crossed that Prevost will continue to speak out for “the poor and migrants, like Francis did.”

Another congregant added, she wants to see a pope “exactly the same” in beliefs and actions as his predecessor.

However, Prevost’s past has drawn controversy. While leading the Augustinians in Chicago, he reportedly allowed a priest accused of abuse to remain in his role. The order later removed the cleric and paid a settlement, according to a May 9 article published by The Guardian. He also permitted another accused priest to live near a Catholic school, and as a bishop in Peru, he received abuse reports from women but appeared to take little action.

Still, although the Prevost has yet to speak extensively about his personal views, the name he selected may offer clues about what to expect in his priorities.

 The name “Leo” carries historical symbolism – Pope Leo XIII, who reigned in the late 19th century, was known for his commitment to social teaching and workers’ rights. Choosing the name Leo points to a continuity of that legacy, suggesting a papacy rooted in social reform.