Students Celebrate Election of First-Ever American Pope

The election of the first-ever American pope on May 8 was a special moment for The Catholic University of America, the national university of the Catholic Church in the United States.

Hundreds huddled in front of the television screens at Murphy’s Grill at the Edward J. Pryzbyla University Center to await the reveal of the name of the new pope. Upon the announcement of the election of Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost of Chicago, the crowd cheered: “USA! USA! USA!” and "Leo! Leo! Leo!"

Politics senior and ROTC cadet Joe Loel quickly got hoarse from chanting. It’s especially meaningful for him as he looks forward to graduating from the U.S. bishop’s university and starting service as an officer in the U.S. Navy.

“The Catholic University of America is in service to the Church and nation,” said Loel. “With an American pope, there’s a new way to connect to that mission. I feel a personal connection to the papacy now.”

Criminology first-year student Rory Harrigan said “a lot of my family are from Chicago. The family group chat is crazy right now with messages saying, ‘He’s from our city!’ It’s amazing.”

University President Peter Kilpatrick, his wife Nancy, and University Chaplain and Vice President of Ministry and Mission Father Aquinas Guilbeau watched alongside the students, as Pope Leo XIV made his first appearance to the world.

President Kilpatrick said, “I pray that the Lord will bless and guide Pope Leo XIV and use his ministry of preaching, evangelization, and service to build up the family of God across the globe.”

Soon after the pope’s first address, a few students were found parading around campus with the papal flag. 

Catholic Law student Joseph Lopes said he felt “blessed, grateful, and thankful” to celebrate this historic event with “people from different creeds and nations. It ties me to the universal Church.”