May 21, 2025

By Father William Muench
NCC columnist

I was in a grocery store when my phone started to buzz – white smoke. So, I hurried to pay for my goods and get out of the store. I drove home, probably with a little extra speed. I did know that it would take a while before the balcony scene began. The new pope had to change his vestments. Then he would have to meet with all the cardinals – now as the newly elected pope. Later I learned he took some time to write the message that he would give as his inaugural address.

I was truly impressed by the crowd that packed into St. Peter’s Square. I know that once the word got out that the smoke was white, that the cardinals had elected a pope, many people in the area headed to St. Peter’s. I also imagined that many of the students in the nearby seminaries ducked out of class and headed for St. Peter’s. This new pope would be the pope when they would be ordained.

I got home in plenty of time. In fact, I had plenty of time to grab some lunch while waited to discover who will be our new pope.

I must admit that I was anxious. It just has to be one of the good guys. It took some time and then the curtain was opened. And when the cardinal deacon announced the name, I was totally surprised.

A Cardinal born in Chicago, Illinois, Robert Francis Prevost, an Augustinian priest, was now our pope – Pope Leo XIV. He had been a missionary – a priest and then a bishop – who ministered in Peru. I loved it. This is rather special for the Diocese of Ogdensburg. Several of our priests have spent time as missionaries in Peru. Our parish, St. Martin de Porres in Mollendo, is in the south of Peru. Pope Leo’s diocese in Peru was in the north of the country.

Pope Leo is an Augustinian priest. That is his congregation. Here in our diocese, the Augustinian priests served as pastors at St. James Church, Carthage. Now, there are no more Augustinian priests there. The parish school is still named Augustinian Academy. I remember well several of the Augustinian priests who served there during the years.

Since Pope Leo’s election, I have tried to investigate what I could about him, and I must say I am constantly impressed. In his inaugural talk from St. Peter’s balcony, he emphasized a call for peace I this world of ours. He called for an end to violence.

Pope Leo celebrated his first Mass as the Pope on the day after his election with all the cardinals of the Church. I am certain that he knew his first homily would be carefully analyzed by these cardinals and by all the rest of us. I found it interesting that he spoke the first few paragraphs in English. He chose to say in English, the Psalm response of the Mass – “I will sing a new song to the Lord, because he has done marvels.” Also in English, he spoke of the Catholic Church “as a community of friends of Jesus, as believers to announce the good news, to announce the Gospel.” I was pleased that he spoke of us Catholics as “friends of Jesus.”

I am certain that we are going to find our new pope a powerful and exceptional holy father. The Holy Spirit has never failed us. However, we must pray for him as he settles into his place as our holy father.