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Pope Leo XIV will make a “darn good pope,” New York’s Cardinal Timothy Dolan has said, as the first American-born pontiff led his first Mass as the leader of the Catholic Church.
“We have a pope, and I’m just so honored as a priest, as a disciple of Jesus Christ, as a child of God, as a faithful Catholic, I hope, as a priest, Bishop and Cardinal, to have been a big part of it. And I think you’re all excited too,” Dolan said in a video posted to social media.
Leo XIV, formerly Robert Prevost, was elected as the leader of the Catholic Church after more than two-thirds of the cardinals voted for him to succeed the late Pope Francis.
“I just hope you sense that,” Dolan said. “We have a pope… and take my word for it, he’s a darn good one.”
The New York Cardinal added he thinks Leo will seek to build bridges with all world leaders, including U.S. President Donald Trump.
Meanwhile, celebrations for Leo swept across the country, as US cardinals celebrated his election by blasting “Born in the U.S.A.” and “American Pie.”
The owner of Pope Leo XIV’s childhood Chicago home quickly pulled the listing Thursday after hearing that Robert Prevost had been elected pope, according to Curbed.
Pope Leo’s home where he grew up with his two brothers in Dolton, Illinois, had been for sale for $199,900.
Now, that figure could change according to the listing agent Steve Budzik, who said the house could even become a “museum or viewing center.”
“Every idea’s up in the air right now,” he told the outlet.
The childhood home of Pope Leo XIV in Dolton, Chicago (REUTERS)
Rhian Lubin10 May 2025 08:00
The new Pope is a “citizen of the world” and the moment he accepted his election inside the secret conclave meeting brought “elation”, a cardinal who was there has said.
The leader of Catholics in England and Wales, Cardinal Vincent Nichols, spoke of a “quite remarkable spirit of fraternity” during the time he and 132 others were sequestered away from the world to elect the new leader.
Cardinal Nichols, who is the Archbishop of Westminster, described Pope Leo XIV as gentle and calm, as well as decisive and unifying.
He told reporters in Rome: “He’s been a teacher, he’s been a diocesan bishop, he’s been a member of the Roman Curia.
“That’s a combination of talents that, I think, once it emerged and we’d reflected on the life of the Church, made it pretty clear that here was a man who was bringing the right depth and breadth of experience to the papacy.”
Jabed Ahmed10 May 2025 07:33
Rhian Lubin10 May 2025 07:00
The conclave to elect Pope Leo XIV was “fraternal” in atmosphere without the high drama of the award-winning film of the same name, a cardinal on the inside has said.
Conclave, released late last year just months before the real-life secret meeting of cardinals in Rome this week, imagined the tension, bureaucracy, twists and turns behind the secret meeting to elect a new leader of the Catholic Church.
But Cardinal Vincent Nichols, leader of Catholics in England and Wales who was taking part in his first conclave, insisted reality could not have been further from the silver screen drama.
Aine Fox10 May 2025 06:00
White Sox fans were celebrating Pope Leo XIV at a baseball game in the city on Friday.
The team’s official X account shared a photo of a fan dressed as a pope in tribute to the pontiff, who is a Sox fan.
“Proud moment for Chicago,” White Sox manager Will Venable said before Friday night’s game against Miami. “It’s awesome.”
It was initially reported that the new pope was a Cubs fan. The team congratulated Pope Leo XIV in a post on X that had a picture of Wrigley Field’s iconic marquee with the message: HEY, CHICAGO. HE’S A CUBS FAN!
Rhian Lubin10 May 2025 05:01
It’s the biggest victory for the struggling Chicago White Sox in a long time.
Pope Leo XIV is a White Sox fan — and the organization is embracing the news.
His brother, John Prevost, said the Chicago-born missionary cheered for the White Sox.
“Proud moment for Chicago,” White Sox manager Will Venable said before Friday night’s game against Miami. “It’s awesome.”
It was initially reported that the new pope was a Cubs fan. The team congratulated Pope Leo XIV in a post on X that had a picture of Wrigley Field’s iconic marquee with the message: HEY, CHICAGO. HE’S A CUBS FAN!
Were Donald Trump’s ears burning as the cardinals gathered in conclave at the Sistine Chapel? Is it inconceivable that the president’s name was uttered in hushed tones in some corner of the historic sanctuary, under Michelangelo’s Adam, to sway a vote in favor of an American?
It’s of course a liberal fantasy to think that Pope Leo XIV was elected head of the ancient Catholic Church to handle the fleeting earthly man in the White House, but President Trump will nonetheless have to reckon with a fellow American, a leader on the world stage, who has spoken out against his policies and will likely continue to do so from perhaps the only bully pulpit to rival the Resolute Desk, writes Richard Hall.
Read the full sketch below.
Richard Hall10 May 2025 02:20
Rhian Lubin10 May 2025 01:20
The owner of Pope Leo XIV’s childhood Chicago home quickly pulled the listing Thursday after hearing that Robert Prevost had been elected pope, according to Curbed.
Pope Leo’s home where he grew up with his two brothers in Dolton, Illinois, had been for sale for $199,900.
Now, that figure could change according to the listing agent Steve Budzik, who said the house could even become a “museum or viewing center.”
“Every idea’s up in the air right now,” he told the outlet.
The childhood home of Pope Leo XIV in Dolton, Chicago (REUTERS)
Rhian Lubin10 May 2025 00:50