JOPLIN, Mo. (KOAM) – The announcement of Robert Prevost of the United States being named Pope Leo XIV is being celebrated by Catholics all across the world.
Four-staters are also taking part in the celebrations of the new pope.
St. Peter’s the Apostle Catholic Church in Joplin rescheduled it’s mass today so parishioners could come together and pray for the new pope.
Community members gathered together in the chapel at Mercy Hospital for the historic occasion.
“We watched the Cardinal come out and announce the new pope, and it’s hard to understand the Latin sometimes, but when they said, Cardinal Prevost and I knew who that was, I was just so excited, I jumped up. We have an American pope. It was just unbelievable,” says Father Brian Straus, a pastor at St. Peters.
When Fr. Straus saw the white smoke, a signal a new pope had been chosen, he went to discuss the news with area Catholic school students.
“Any papal conclave is always a big deal. They come along roughly every ten, 20 years. You never know exactly and so it’s an historic moment for those students at McAuley Catholic High School and Saint Mary’s Middle School, but also to be there when an American pope was announced, which is something that I never thought I’d see in my lifetime, was just incredible to experience that together and talk about that together,” says Straus.
They’re not only celebrating a new voice in the Vatican, but the fact he is American. Catholics in the 4-States say it’s a monumental moment not only for Catholicism, but for the United States as well. Fr. Straus says now is a time that people can take great pride in.
“it’s incredible to think that he is one of us, that he’s like us,” says Straus. “Chicago’s not that far, you know, and somebody who, knows what it’s like to be an American. And, I think it’s just an exciting moment.”
Fr. Straus says he anticipates a full and excited mass this coming Sunday, when more parishioners are able to come together.
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