FOND DU LAC (WLUK) – Pope Leo made history last year becoming the first American to be named the Holy Father.

At that time FOX 11 introduced you to a nun who taught a young Robert “Bob” Prevost at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago.

It’s been nearly 50 years since Sister Dianne Bergant had Bob Prevost in class at Catholic Theological Union. A year after the man she knew as Bob became Pope Leo XIV, Sister Dianne is still beaming with pride.

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She said, “I was part of the theological education of the Holy Father. But I may have said this to you before. I have said many times that I have benefited from being on the faculty for 48 years at CTU. I’ve gotten a lot of blessings, you know, opportunities. But I’ve always felt that the greatest blessing that I’ve had is that I’ve been part of the theological formation of the future ministers of the church. And he was part of that.”

It’s a connection Pope Leo hasn’t forgotten either.

Sister Dianne framing the email correspondence she’s had with Bob, first when he became a Cardinal and then again when he became Pope Leo.

Recalling the email exchange she said, “I said something about surprise in all the conversation and he said, and initially I thought, because he signed it, Leo XIV, and initially I thought that somebody else is not answering his email, which is reasonable. And then, I mean, I expected that. But he talked about a surprise. So nobody would know to use that word and talk about that word. So it was short and he said he talked about surprises and then he signed it, Leo. Best wishes, Leo XIV. So I’m satisfied.”

Understanding the immense burden and responsibilities, her former student has as leader of Catholics around the world, Sister Dianne isn’t surprised Pope Leo leads with the same calming and comfortable voice she remembers.

As he’s the primary teacher of theology she’s always interested in what he has to say.

She added, “One thing I know about him, he won’t start a fight but he won’t run away from it. I made that when he was elected. And now you look at American politics. He didn’t start a fight but he didn’t run away from it either. And he did not speak about what our government officials have said about him. He didn’t speak about it in any kind of an arrogant or a nasty way. You know, he just said, you know, I’m not afraid because I’m doing what I have been, you know, elected to do.”