Locals react to new pope

Published 11:10 am Tuesday, May 13, 2025

White smoke billowed from the Sistine Chapel’s chimney Thursday signaling the selection of the 267th pope to lead the Catholic Church.

Chicago-born Cardinal Robert F. Prevost, 69, was elected to the holy role and has taken on the name Pope Leo XIV. An estimated 1.4 billion Catholics worldwide now look to him for guidance after Pope Francis’ April 21 death at 88 years old.

Prevost is not only the first American, but also the first North American to rise to the papacy. Much has been made of Pope Leo’s American background in the wake of the announcement. That doesn’t matter to John Geist, a 78-year-old Catholic from birth, or “cradle Catholic” as many such people refer to themselves.

“It’s a big world,” said Geist, who attends Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Milledgeville. “The nature of nationalism, with the selection of the pope, never really interested me. The Catholic Church tends to be a pretty globalized religion. The nationalistic attention to that never really entered my mind.”

Pope Leo is a dual citizen of both the United States and Peru, which is where he had served as a missionary and bishop when Pope Francis called him to the Vatican in January 2023 to oversee nominations for new bishops.

“My quick reaction is very positive, and that it’s a good thing,” Geist added. “He is an experienced priest and has done a lot of work in a variety of environments. I think that will serve his work well. We’ll see what happens. He’s got some big shoes to fill. Hopefully, he’ll be able to continue that path.”

Sacred Heart parishioner Doug Rick said he feels an instant connection with the new pope. Both are currently 69 years old and were born in Illinois. And Rick’s middle name? Leo.

“I was happy they chose a pope so quickly,” Rick said, speaking about what was a two-day process. “I think Pope Leo is pretty unique in the fact that he is so international and has so much exposure and experience in Peru and Rome. I think they made a wise choice.”

Lily Vaughn, another Sacred Heart parishioner, was working at Christ Our King and Savior church near Lake Oconee when the papal conclave made its decision. She was watching the global Catholic television network EWTN as the white smoke appeared. Not long after the bells at Christ Our King started ringing.

“It’s a confirmation of the continuity of our faith,” Vaughn said on what the naming of a new pope means. “When one person ceases to be here, there is another who comes and continues to lead us as our shepherd.”

As with a leadership change in any realm, people have ideas for what they’d like to see from the newest pope’s tenure.

“I hope that he continues with social issues like Pope Francis — inclusiveness of everybody, a bigger role for women and laypeople in the faith,” said Vaughn.

“The pope can set agendas, and those agendas and tones are very important,” Geist said. “If you think of where we are in the world today, we have live firing wars going on in a number of regions. A little spiritual leadership is an important thing to help smooth that stuff out.”