Welcoming Pope Leo XIV, Remembering Pope Francis

After the passing of Pope Francis, many Catholics around Chambers County have reflected on his life and legacy, while embracing the newly named Pope Leo XIV, the first American Pope.

On Thursday, May 8, Pope Leo, born Robert Prevost, was named the predecessor of Pope Francis, making history.

"I am still in disbelief that there is a pope that came from the United States of America," said Father Phillip Tran, priest of St. Louis Catholic Church and Our Lady of Light Catholic Church.

While a cardinal, Pope Leo did mission work in Peru, serving underprivileged people.

It seems to be a very auspicious sign that he is a man of deep faith and of living for others," Tran said of the Pope's time overseas.

Pope Leo said there were many reasons he chose Leo as his name, mainly due to Pope Leo XIII, according to the Vatican News Facebook page.

The new Pope compared Pope Leo XIII's time during the Industrial Revolution to his own era with artificial intelligence.

"Pope Leo XIV is a historic figure and everyone is still trying to figure him out," Tran said. "I have only heard extremely positive things about him, and it seems that he is a very competent and capable man, someone who will be a great shepherd, especially in a time of uncertainty and unrest."

The papal conclave officially got underway on Wednesday, May 7 when a total of 135 cardinals secluded themselves in the Sistine Chapel and remained there, only leaving to eat and sleep, until the 267th Bishop of Rome was chosen.

This conclave was Tran's first as a priest and he said the traditions of the church and the origins of the conclave process are very interesting, noting that the longest conclave lasted three years.

In contrast, just two days after the conclave began, the Pope was chosen. White smoke billowed from the chapel and bells rang, marking the beginning of Pope Leo XIV's time as the leader of the Catholic Church.

About two and a half weeks prior, just a day after Easter Sunday on Monday, April 21, Pope Francis, 88, died of a stroke and heart failure after falling into a coma. Prior to this, he was in a hospital for a little over a month fighting double pneumonia.

"I wish I had known more about Pope Francis in his life. So many amazing stories of his mercy have surfaced since his death. May our Pope of Mercy rest in peace," said Annette Abernathy of Our Lady of Light Catholic Church.

Born as Jorge Mario Bergoglio, the Pope made history as the first Latin American to serve in the role, and he was loved by many.

"I think a lot of people, and definitely myself, are now just starting to appreciate him now that he's gone, unfortunately," Tran said. "All of the wonderful stories and videos of the ways that he was loving and going out to the people have been having a very big impact on me."

Tran noted that Pope Francis "always emphasized the forgotten," noting the poor, the sick and immigrants.

The Pope was the first in over a century to be buried outside of the Vatican, as he was buried at the Basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome on Saturday, April 26.

With the passing of Pope Francis, many have mourned, yet still look forward to the future and to see how Pope Leo will lead the church.

"I definitely feel like there is a very high energy in the air, especially for us as Americans that we have our first pope," Tran said. "Many people are predicting that there will be a new springtime of the church, and we pray there will be a lot of good fruit from the increase in faith."

Tran said there is already a large theme of "building bridges" with the new Pope and he believes people are noticing the Catholic Church has more in common with Christian religions than differences.

"Cecilia and I congratulate the first American-born Pope, Pope Leo XIV," Gov. Greg Abbott said. "We join Catholics across the globe to pray for God's guidance as Pope Leo XIV assumes leadership of the Catholic Church."