At Sunday Mass in New York, Americans celebrate Pope Leo XIV

12/5/2025 6:13

Excitement rippled through

New York City's St. Patrick's Cathedral on Sunday morning, the

first since an American was picked to lead the Roman Catholic

Church in a selection that surprised and delighted many of his

countrymen and women.



At Sunday Mass, the landmark, Gothic-style church - the

focal point of Catholicism in the most populous U.S. city - was

brimming with worshippers eager to celebrate the unexpected

achievement of Chicago native Robert Prevost, now known as Pope

Leo XIV.



Many were happy to share their thoughts on the new pontiff

and the variety of ways they could relate to him personally.



On the steps leading to the cathedral gates, Patrick

Sheridan, who came to the Mass from New Jersey, stood alongside

his wife Mary. The couple were elated to learn that the new pope

was a graduate of Philadelphia's Villanova University, the same

school many of their family members attended.



"We were extremely excited when we heard about it," Patrick

Sheridan said.



Cardinal Timothy Dolan, the archbishop of New York, was

still in Rome on Sunday after the pope's selection, Monsignor

Joseph LaMorte, the archdiocese's vicar general, told

parishioners during Mass.



LaMorte, who is Dolan's deputy, said he was keen to meet

with the cardinal when he returns to New York.



"We can't wait to hear some of the stories that he's allowed

to talk about," LaMorte said. "You know the secrecy of the

conclave is very, very serious."



Jason Graham, speaking outside the cathedral, said having

an American Pope could help improve the image of the United

States abroad.



"Our country's not looking so great, especially with the

current administration," Graham said, referring to President

Donald Trump's tariffs and other policies that are unpopular in

other countries.



"But I think that (the new pope) is a positive influence for

America, and I think he's going to have a positive impact on how

other people in the world will see America," he said.



For Lucero De Paz, a Hispanic American from Texas, the most

appealing aspect of Leo XIV's background was his missionary and

humanitarian work in Peru, where the new pope spent decades and

was granted a second citizenship.



"I felt a lot better, I think, about where he stands as far

as immigration issues that are happening today," De Paz said.

"Well-being of all Latinos is a huge issue to me, not just as a

Christian and Catholic, but also culturally."



Trump has taken a series of aggressive measures aimed at

cracking down on illegal immigrants, many of them from Latin

America, since he took office in January.



Sadie Murlaney, who hails from Scotland, came to New York to

celebrate her birthday and stopped by St. Patrick's for the

Mass. She said she was happy to learn that the new pope took the

same name as her first grandson Leo.



Murlaney said she would pray for the pope to help restore

peace in the world.



"With all the wars going on, it's not a nice place just

now," she said. "We hopefully pray for him to help any way we

can."