GREENVILLE, N.C. (WITN) – Today marks one year since Pope Leo XIV was elected as the first pontiff from the United States.
Now, a chaplain in Greenville is reflecting on the pope’s historic first year leading the Catholic Church.
ECU Newman Center Chaplain Father Ian VanHeusen says having an American pope is “a beautiful thing,” and hearing a pope speak with an American accent is also fun.
It has been a historic first year for Pope Leo, who has pushed for peace amid tensions involving the U.S., Israel, and Iran, which have at times led to clashes with President Donald Trump.
VanHeusen says he is excited to see what the next year with Pope Leo will bring, especially as the pope prepares to address artificial intelligence.
“I’m really excited he’s about to put in an encyclical on AI, he’s addressing that,” VanHeusen said. “I’m really curious to see how his papacy develops. I think we’re in kind of the midst of a major transition for our civilization, for our humanity, and I think he’s going to rise to the occasion.”
In the past year, Pope Leo has also spoken in support of immigrant rights and has called for peace in Ukraine and Gaza.
Copyright 2026 WITN. All rights reserved.