Habemus Papam!

June 1, 2025

Knights of Columbus celebrate the election of Pope Leo XIV, the first pope from North America

By Columbia staff

June 1, 2025

Pope Leo XIV waves to the crowd in St. Peter’s Square following his election as pope May 8. — Pope Leo XIV, formerly Cardinal Robert F. Prevost, waves to the crowd in St. Peter’s Square following his election as pope May 8. (CNS photo/Vatican Media)

From the moment he stepped onto the loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica on May 8, Pope Leo XIV — formerly Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost — made clear from the beginning his vision for a Church united in peace and centered in Jesus Christ.

“Peace be with you all,” the new pope proclaimed in Italian. “Dear brothers and sisters, these are the first words spoken by the risen Christ, the Good Shepherd who laid down his life for God’s flock. I would like this greeting of peace to resound in your hearts, in your families, among all people, wherever they may be, in every nation and throughout the world.

Pope Leo XIV prays at the Shrine of Our Lady of Good Counsel in Genazzano, Italy — Pope Leo XIV leads prayer at the Shrine of Our Lady of Good Counsel in Genazzano, Italy, May 10. The shrine, home to a revered image of Mary, is overseen by the Augustinians, who are also entrusted with promoting devotion to Mary under this title. (CNS photo/Vatican Media)

“It is the peace of the risen Christ. A peace that is unarmed and disarming, humble and persevering. A peace that comes from God, the God who loves us all, unconditionally.”

Pope Leo XIV is the first pope born in the United States and the first member of the Order of St. Augustine ever elected to the papacy. A native of Chicago and a former missionary bishop in Peru, he most recently served as prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops.

In his first official address to the College of Cardinals on May 10, Pope Leo spoke of his decision to take the name “Leo,” citing inspiration from Pope Leo XIII and his 1891 encyclical Rerum Novarum, which addressed the social impact of industrialization.

Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly, with his wife, Vanessa, at his side, applauds as Pope Leo XIV arrives — Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly, with his wife, Vanessa, at his side, applauds as the Holy Father reaches the altar in St. Peter’s Square. (Photo by Paul Haring)

“Sensing myself called to continue in this same path, I chose to take the name Leo XIV,” he explained. “In our own day, the Church offers to everyone the treasury of her social teaching in response to another industrial revolution and to developments in the field of artificial intelligence that pose new challenges for the defense of human dignity, justice and labor.”

Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly affirmed the Knights of Columbus’ solidarity with Pope Leo in a statement issued shortly after his election on May 8: “I pledge our loyalty to Pope Leo XIV as well as our prayers today and every day of his pontificate. In the years ahead, we will proudly stand with him as we seek together to build up the Kingdom of God.”

Speaking to EWTN, Supreme Knight Kelly reflected on his personal impressions of the new Holy Father: “He’s a very easy person to talk to,” he said of his 2023 meetings with Cardinal Prevost. “I think he’s a very balanced man … and very intelligent. It’s a very, very good thing for the Church, what happened today. … This was a conclave of surprises, I would say, brought to us by a God of surprises.”

Pope Leo XIV greets the faithful gathered in St. Peter’s Square for his inauguration Mass on May 18, 2025. — Pope Leo XIV greets the faithful, including pilgrims from the United States, gathered in St. Peter’s Square for his inauguration Mass on May 18. (Photo by CNS photo/Vatican Media)

The pope’s years as an Augustinian priest and bishop in Peru, the supreme knight said, show that the poor and vulnerable are close to his heart — a priority that resonates with the Knights’ work around the world.

“He has a global view of the Church, so that’s a real advantage he brings,” affirmed the supreme knight, who was also present in St. Peter’s Square on May 18 for Pope Leo’s inauguration Mass, marking the formal beginning of his pontificate. The liturgy was broadcast globally thanks in part to equipment donated by the Knights of Columbus to the Vatican’s Dicastery of Communication.

More than 250,000 mourners attend the funeral Mass of Pope Francis on April 26, 2025

Habemus Papam!

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