SPOKANE, Wash. – Fr. Darrin Connall learned of the next successor to the Chair of St. Peter like the rest of the world outside Vatican City – glued to a TV ever since hearing word of the white smoke.
He got a text shortly after Pope Leo XIV stepped out on the balcony overlooking St. Peter Square: An American, never thought I’d see that.
“Me neither,” Fr. Connall replied.
The same reaction recurred, one by one, as parishioners completed noon Mass at Our Lady of the Lourdes Cathedral in downtown Spokane. Angela Christianson wasn’t expecting a new pope so soon; but she isn’t complaining either.
“I don’t consider it to be a bad surprise. I actually feel that it’s a bit of a good surprise, and I really love that he has the Peruvian experience as well,” Christianson said. “I choose to be hopeful.”
While Pope Leo XIV is an American – born in Chicago – his reputation proceeds himself outside a United States. Before becoming the Bishop of Rome, he served as a Bishop in Peru.
He’s literate in seven languages.
“His role again in Latin America will give him a more global sense of the church. And I think he speaks English perfectly, which is unusual for a pope,” Fr. Connall said.
While it can feel natural to view an American pope through and American lens, parishioners are holding back the usual labels.
“Ya know, the question! Is he conservative, is he a liberal?” Christianson said. “It really much of a question, you know, praying for him to be docile to the holy spirit so that it’s the Lord guiding him.”
A lot grabbed attention throughout the biggest news story in the world; but just a few simple words spoken to St. Peter’s Square, and the world, tell Fr. Connall all he needs to know on day one.
God loves everyone.
“Over and over again he was saying it,” Fr. Connall said. “That’s a simple message, but an important message, because not everyone feels that in their own life.”
