Macon’s Catholic leaders reflect on new pope’s American heritage, path of the church

The Catholic Church elected a new pope Thursday after Pope Francis’ passing on April 21. The Conclave deliberated for a little over a day before choosing Cardinal Robert Prevost, who took on the name of Pope LeoXIV, as the church’s next leader.

Macon’s Catholic priests described Pope Leo XIV as a man who could bring new perspectives and open the church to those on “on the periphery of society.”

Pope Leo XIV is the first American-born Pope in the church’s history. He was born in Chicago, served as the bishop of Chiclayo, Peru, from 2015-23 and became a cardinal in 2023.

Father John Johnson at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church was away from his church on vacation when the white smoke billowed from the Sistine Chapel’s chimney. 

“When Pope Francis passed away, there was this real yearning, firstly just a kind of sadness and mourning that we in some ways had lost our shepherd,” Johnson said.

To Johnson, the selection of Prevost as the next pope was “totally unexpected.” Pope Leo is the second consecutive and second-ever pope to be elected from the Western Hemisphere.

Johnson said he believes that Pope Leo can take the mantle of the church’s shepherd, introducing North and South American perspectives into a Eurocentric institution. 

Father Steven Pavignano, a pastor at Holy Spirit Catholic Church, noted that while many consider Pope Leo as an American cardinal, most of his time was spent in Peru.

He said he didn’t lose too much sleep over the conclave, since the spirit finds a way of picking the right person to guide the church, regardless of nationality or language.

Pavignano is glad the church picked a pope that he thinks will keep with the tradition of “being open to the spirit,” and include those who find themselves on the outs of society.

“The spirit does what the spirit needs to do and I look forward to looking at someone who is going to continue building bridges so the Lord’s work can be done in the world,” he said. 

Pope Leo brings a unique perspective as someone who has been in different parts of the world and held so many different offices, Johnson said.

He said Pope Leo XIV also follows in the footsteps of Pope Leo XII, who served from 1878 to 1903 and “addressed himself to the world,” by reaching out as the world was changing during the Industrial Revolution.

“My people are certainly feeling very reassured and feel happy,” Johnson said. “We want to pray for him in the coming days.”