PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD) — As news spread about the news that an American had been chosen to be the new pope, a first in the 2,000-year history of the Catholic Church, reaction locally was positive.
Bishop Louis Tylka of the Catholic Diocese of Peoria welcomed the election of Robert Prevost who took the papal name of Leo XIV, as the new leader of the church.
“In this moment of great significance for the Church and the world, we were grateful for the guidance of the Holy Spirit who led the cardinals in their sacred task,” Tylka said.
Bells tolled at the news of the new pontiff. The faithful gathered during a noontime mass at Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church. Those at the mass were pleased with the selection.
Lilly Twait of Eureka said she was so excited.
“It was so beautiful to hear at mass when we found out about it. It was so crazy that I might have been at one of the first masses where his name was said during the Eucharistic Prayer,” she said. “Father Miller started to tear up a little bit and so did I. It was so beautiful.”
Having an American chosen as pope and moreover from Illinois, was wonderful, she said.
Tylka said the diocese pledged support and fidelity to Pope Leo XIV as the Successor of Peter.
“United with the universal Church, we are ready to walk in faith alongside our new Holy Father, trusting in God’s providence and grace,” the bishop said. “Let us pray his pontificate will lead all Catholics in our efforts to bring Christ to the world — a world so in need of healing, truth, and peace.
“May the Lord bless our new Pope abundantly as he begins his ministry of service, unity, and love,” Tylka said.
Praise God was the first words Brian Hennessey had to say about the new pontiffs. “I hope he’s a faithful servant of the Lord, a good disciple and helps guide the Catholic flock and helps to lead us.”
Hennessey said it was exciting to hear about the new pope saying it’s not like a presidential election that happens every four years.
“The last one was 2013, before that was 2005 and before that was 1979 so you just never know. It’s exciting to have a new shepherd and a leader that we can look to for guidance,” he said.
White smoke poured out of the Sistine Chapel chimney Thursday at 6:07 p.m. local time, signaling that a pontiff had been elected to lead the Catholic Church.
A Chicago native, Prevost, 69, spent his career ministering in Peru and led the Vatican’s powerful office of bishops.Play Video
From the loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica, history’s first American pope recalled that he was an Augustinian priest, but a Christian above all, and a bishop, “so we can all walk together.”
He spoke in Italian and then switched to Spanish, recalling his many years spent as a missionary and then archbishop of Chiclayo, Peru.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
