By Loretta Fulton

Local Catholics, like many Catholics worldwide, expressed their approval of the newly elected Pope Leo XIV.

And, like many, they were surprised at how quickly he was elected by the College of Cardinals. Most surprising of all, both to local Catholics and Catholics around the globe, was that he is an American.

“We hoped for an American pope but did not anticipate that,” said Mary Lou Sipe, speaking of herself and her husband, Ron. 

The announcement of Leo’s election was made on May 8. His successor, Pope Francis, died April 21 at age 88. The Conclave that elected Pope Leo convened on May 7, and after four ballots signalled to the world with its signature white smoke that Pope Leo had been elected. 

Monica Garcia

Here are the responses from four local Catholics to a series of questions: Mary Cooksey and Aid Pantoja are members of Holy Family Catholic Church. Mary Lou and Ron Sipe are members of Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Monica Garcia is a member of St. Vincent Pallotti Catholic Church.

1. Did you expect an election so quickly?
Mary Cooksey: I had no idea what to expect.
Aida Pantoja: No
Mary Lou and Ron Sipe: We expected a longer time to elect the pope. 
Monica Garcia: I anticipated it to occur when it did just because I’d been following the social media coverage on Instagram and there were various breakdowns from Vatican news and other outlets that had how long the last several elections took.

2. What part of the world did you expect the new pope to be from?  
Mary Cooksey: With so many new cardinals, I expected the new pope to be from somewhere other than Europe, but I didn’t expect an American. 
Aida Pantoja: Rome
Mary Lou and Ron Sipe: We hoped for an American pope but did not anticipate that. 
Monica Garcia: Honestly I thought southeast Asia or West Africa.  I was rooting for Cardinal Tagel from the Philippines or Cardinal Sarah of Guinea. Cardinal Prevost wasn’t even on my radar.

3. Were you excited about the first American pope being elected?
Mary Cooksey: I am excited about the choice more because of who he is rather than where he’s from. 
Aida Pantoja: Yes, super excited because he is American with nationality from Peru.
Mary Lou and Ron Sipe: We were excited for the election of Pope Leo XIV, even though we knew nothing about him. 
Monica Garcia: Definitely! I don’t think anyone really considered the election of an American Pope to actually occur.

4. What was your initial reaction to the new pope? (His statements, his background, his demeanor?)
Mary Cooksey: I was delighted to see a vigorous man with a warm smile who appeared amazingly comfortable on the balcony. 
Aida Pantoja: I was very impressed by his humility, his educational background, and the love for the poor.
Mary Lou and Ron Sipe: We learned he played Church with his brothers when they were all children and that the brothers said, ”you may be a pope one day!! (Was this the Holy Spirit telling the brothers?)
Monica Garcia: My initial reaction was one of such deep emotion.  I’d been watching everything closely and to see him come out on the balcony, with tears in his eyes as he looked at the crowd taking in this massive responsibility…I just couldn’t help but cry. Then when his first words were “Peace be with all of you.” and to have everyone recite the Hail Mary together as one…chills! Since I didn’t know anything about him I then began researching him and have been so hopeful with all I have read and seen. His demeanor is so calm and joyful at this time, but from his past, I know that he knows how to unite and take leadership, which is important.  

5. What is your hope for the Catholic Church under the leadership of Pope Leo XIV?
Mary Cooksey: My hope is that Pope Leo will continue on the path taken by Pope Francis, which feels to me like the authentic continuation of the Lord’s work. 
Aida Pantoja: My hope is to see people working together to understand each other and love each other.
Mary Lou and Ron Sipe: He was a missionary priest in Peru for 20 years, ministering to the poor and the neglected.
Monica Garcia: My hope with Pope Leo XIV at the helm, is the peace and unity that the church always needs. There are always critics and naysayers, so I know that won’t change, but I pray that having an American Pope could refocus and reenergize Catholicism here in the States.

6. Any other comments you wish to add:
Mary Cooksey: The prompt selection of our new pope signals to me that Pope Francis was divinely guided to get the right people in place to continue the powerful work of the Church through the deep roots of the papacy. 
Aida Pantoja: Best wishes to our Pope Leo XIV, long life and good health.
Mary Lou and Ron Sipe: We are excited for our new pope and pray he can promote unity within the Church and our world.
Monica Garcia: The level of social media coverage and access made this Conclave very different from previous ones.  I was even able to pull my Church of Christ co-workers into all of the excitement and they were intently following along with me and asking questions.  I loved it!