VATICAN CITY (OSV News) -- On the second day of the conclave, after white smoke billowed from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel, Americans in Rome reacted with shock, delight and questions at the realization that the new pope -- Pope Leo XIV -- was a fellow American.
Though born in Chicago, Robert Francis Prevost was not a household name in the United States, having lived most of his life in Europe and South America.
In fact, many people in St. Peter's Square -- including Americans -- didn't recognize who he was when his name was announced and he came out onto the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica.
"I'm kind of shocked," said Marc Rademaker, 25, of Rice Lake, Wisconsin, who was on vacation with his parents, Bill and Renee. "I didn't really know who the front-runners were, but I know that there's never been an American pope before, and I was not expecting it today. To be from the U.S. and to see the first U.S. pope is pretty spectacular."
The large screens in the square at one point showed an American flag waving after the new pope was introduced, but Pope Leo did not speak in English from the balcony. He did speak in Italian and Spanish, the latter specifically to say hello to the people of his former Diocese of Chiclayo, Peru, where he served from 2015-2023, when he was appointed as head of the Vatican's powerful Dicastery for Bishops.
Among the throngs of people listening in person to Pope Leo from the square, and present for the new pope's "urbi et orbi" blessing, were three other Americans -- one priest, one deacon, and one seminarian, all from the Diocese of Nashville, Tennessee, and with ties to the Pontifical North American College. One of the trio, Deacon Christian Hamrick, a fourth year at the NAC, called it "a historic day."
"We were all very excited when we saw the white smoke, and we were even more excited when we heard 'Prevost' come out," he said.
Father David Lee called it a "pure joy to be able to finally have a pope."
"Never did I think that I'd be in Rome to see a pope elected, let alone an American pope," Father Lee said. "The North American College, our seminary, was obviously founded for American seminarians and priests to grow closer to the Holy Hather, and now to have a Holy Father who was born in America is a special kind of tie as well. To be able to share in that first historical moment for the church in America and the church throughout the world is a great gift."
Reed Robinson, a third year at NAC, described how the trio had been in the square praying evening prayer when the white smoke began to rise from the chimney, adding they were surprised, because they weren't expecting white smoke then.
"I'm certainly excited," Robinson said. "I don't really know much about him, so I'm excited to learn more and see where he leads us. I'm certainly praying for him. He's taken on a massive job -- a job that needs prayers, because now he's responsible for a lot of souls -- all of them."
Robinson described seeing Pope Leo appear to the people for the first time.
"To see a smile on his face, to see the glisten in his eye, that meant a lot to see," Robinson said. "His heart is certainly touched, and I can't even imagine what's running through his head. So (we'll) just try to pray for him and do the best to support him from afar that we can, especially being the Americans in the city."
Sitting at a cafe just off of St. Peter's Square, Kathy Kuhn, from Grosse Pointe Woods, Michigan, in the Archdiocese of Detroit, said she was shocked to find out the new pope was an American.
"I could not believe it was an American, because I never, ever in my lifetime or my children's lifetime, would ever think that an American would be a pope," she said.
As to what else she was feeling -- "Am I happy? I can't say I am yet. I have to see what his views are going to be," said Kuhn, a member of the traditional Latin Mass community. Pope Francis placed restrictions on the celebration of Mass in Latin with the 1962 Roman Missal, commonly called the traditional Latin Mass, in July 2021 with his controversial document "Traditionis Custodes."
"So we were praying very hard for the next pope to see how he will handle this, (and) we're still praying for it," she said.
American Catholics will wrap their heads around the idea of having a native son as their pope soon enough -- but the memories of this day, and the surprises that came with it, will last a lifetime.
