Maryland Catholics celebrate election of American-born Pope Leo XIV

Catholics across the world, and here in Maryland, are celebrating the Vatican's historic election of a new pope.

The new pope, Chicago-born Cardinal Robert Prevost, who will be going by Pope Leo XIV, is the first U.S.-born pope in the Roman Catholic Church's history.

William Lori, the Archbishop of Baltimore, called Pope Leo XIV, "prayerful, reflective, and a good listener with a missionary heart."  

"Our church in the United States has, in a certain way, come of age today," Archbishop Lori said. "For the first time, our church has given to the whole church a pontiff – that's a beautiful, important thing." 

Archbishop Lori, parishioners react to new pope

Archbishop Lori, who hosted a Mass Thursday at Mary Our Queen in North Baltimore, told WJZ that he has a special relationship with Pope Leo XIV, having met him multiple times.

Lori believes the new pope will bring a global perspective to the papacy.

"I've had the occasion to meet with our new Holy Father previously. I know him to be a good man, a good listener, a person with great compassion, and I think he's going to be a wonderful Holy Father to us," Archbishop Lori said.

Parishioners at the Mary Our Queen Mass are hopeful about the church's new leader.

"Absolutely shocked that he was an American, you know, the first time in the history of the Catholic church, really excited," said parishioner Isaac Henson. 

"Total disbelief and excitement," added parishioner Giulia Henson. "I was shaking and I was crying, and it's just beyond imagination, in a good way."

Maryland parishioners believe Pope Leo XIV is the right leader to carry on the values within the Catholic church.

"I'm thrilled, and I think he's really going to be good for the church," said parishioner Christine Garrison. "He seems like he's going to be following in Francis's footsteps, which I think is a good thing."

"I think he focuses a lot on the best parts of Pope Francis, so care for the poor, care for immigrants, care for refugees, so I think the future is bright in the Catholic church," Isaac Henson said.

"Shocking, honestly, to have an American pope"

Loyola University Maryland leaders and students told WJZ that Thursday has been emotional and very exciting. 

 "I'm really excited, I feel like I'm there," student Kaitlyn Ramos said. "I'm watching it and trying to imagine myself in the Vatican right now."

From the moment white smoke billowed from the Sistine Chapel in Rome, excitement and anticipation blossomed over the world.

In Baltimore, students and staff in Loyola University's campus ministry building were glued to the television, finding out who the next pontiff would be.

"All the students were here, we were all clapping and cheering," said Milton Bravo, the Vice President of Mission and Identity at Loyola. "And then we waited about an hour or so to see the new pope come out on that balcony and greet the people of Rome and the whole world."

And when it was determined that the new pope, Pope Leo XIV, was American-born, those watching at Loyola were stunned.  

"Shocking, honestly, to have an American pope," said Emily Kane, the campus ministry director at Loyola. "I don't think anybody was expecting that to happen."

"He spoke of peace"

Cardinal Robert Prevost, 69, spent years ministering in Peru. He was made a cardinal by the late Pope Francis in September 2023.

He was born in Chicago and earned a college degree from Villanova University in Philadelphia.

His first words as Pope Francis's successor were, "Peace be with you."

"What you heard on that balcony, which made me really emotional, is someone who is going to build bridges, who's going to continue to reach out, and once again he spoke of peace," Bravo said. "We're welcoming to all, this is a church for all, echoing what Pope Francis said."