'A monumental day': Catholics in Washington embrace the first US-born pope

WASHINGTON – Across the nation’s capital, Catholics joyously welcomed the news of the church’s first U.S.-born pope.

“I never thought in my lifetime I would see an American pope,” said Rev. Msgr. W. Ronald Jameson, the director of St. Matthew’s Cathedral. “Today is an extremely joyful day.”

On May 8, the most senior figure in the Roman Catholic Church chose Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost to be the 267th pope just one day after the papal conclave commenced. Originally from Chicago, the 69-year-old served more than four decades as a missionary and a bishop in Peru, where he became a naturalized citizen.

The new pontiff, who chose the name Leo XIV, was not among the favorites to succeed Pope Francis, who died last month at the age of 88. Still, his selection was a welcomed surprise for many Washingtonians.

Jameson, who leads operations at the mother church of the archbishop of Washington, said the announcement of Pope Leo XIV “totally shocked” him. Leo's ascension to the top of the Catholic Church was a surprise, Jameson said, because being a U.S. citizen was long considered a barrier to the papacy.

The monsignor anticipates the new pontiff will pick up where Francis left off, advocating for the poor and for immigrants and pushing for unity, peace and inclusivity.

“He is someone who will continue the work of Francis and, for me, that’s very important,” Jameson said, watching as a crew of maintenance workers traded the black bunting with a vibrant white and gold draping to commemorate a new pope with the colors of the Holy See.

When Gabby Innamorato and some of her coworkers heard the cardinals had selected a new pope, she rushed out of her office and headed into St. Matthew’s Cathedral across the street.

Innamorato, who works at a nonprofit, said she was unfamiliar with the new pontiff's name as she was hoping for Luis Antonio Tagle, of the Philippines, to succeed Francis. But, after listening to Pope Leo XIV’s first words from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, she feels hopeful that the new leader of the Catholic Church, like Francis, will be “a man of the people.”

“This is a surprise, but not in a bad way,” she said. “I just did not expect it.”

Lucero Rossi, 36, said Leo was the kind of pope she has been praying for since Francis' death.

To Rossi, who was born in Mexico but works in the U.S. as an economist, the issues that matter most are immigration and the environment. And in the short time she’s spent reading up on Leo’s statements, she believes he will follow in his predecessor's footsteps and push for progress on both issues.

“He seems to have a very pro-immigrant agenda,” she said, “so I am very happy about that.”

Rossi watched as he made his first public appearance at St. Peter’s Basilica, opening in Italian with “Peace be with you all.” But what stuck out most of all was the moment he greeted his diocese in Chicago and Peru in Spanish – not English.

“I really loved that,” she said. “That was an embrace of the Latin American world.”

Isaac Sagastume, an ordained priest for the Archdiocese of Washington, said “it’s a very exciting time for the church in the United States.”

Sagastume, who announced to a roaring applause at the start of the afternoon mass that white smoke could be seen emanating from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel – indicating a new pope had been chosen. He said Leo is a leader well suited to deal with the world’s many current affiliations.

“He was a candidate that had experience of the church in the U.S., but also in Latin America and the church at large,” said Sagastume.

Standing outside the church where he briefly met Pope Francis in 2016, Sagastume said Francis “set a path” for Leo and he hopes to see a “pastoral continuation” from the new head of the Vatican.

U.S. politicians also chimed in with well wishes and kind words for the new pontiff. Speaking to the media, President Donald Trump said “To have the Pope from America is a great honor.”

Rep. Robert Garcia, the first Peruvian-American member of Congress, said on X that he wishes Leo “strength as he steps into his role as a global and spiritual leader.”

“He has demonstrated that he believes in justice for the poor and immigrants,” Garcia said. “May his leadership reflect these ideals as he spreads peace across the world.”

Hours after Leo made his first formal greeting as the new pope, a crowd of faithful Catholics filled the pews at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, the largest Catholic church in North America.

As the evening mass began, Rev. Msgr. Vito A. Buonanno, pronounced “He’s American!” to a thunderous roar of applause. “I never thought I’d live to see it,” he added.

Catherine and Steven Miggemeier attended the mass after a more than four hour drive from Long Island, New York. They came to Washington to pick up their daughter, a sophomore at Catholic University of America, and decided to drop into the nearby church to mark the historic day.

The lifelong Catholics said they hope Leo will bring more people to the Catholic faith and show, as Francis did, that “the church is open to everyone.”

Catherine Miggemeier, who was in New York when Francis made his only U.S. visit in 2015, also said she hopes Leo will soon return to his native land and make several appearances across North America. Until then, she said she will embrace the excitement of a new representative of God on Earth.

“This is a monumental day,” she said.

This story was updated to correct a typo.