‘It’s a new chapter’: Catholics in Saskatoon react to Pope Leo XIV

As people walked out of the Cathedral of the Holy Family in Saskatoon after mass on Friday, their faces were all smiles came across their faces when asked about Pope Leo XIV.

Pope Leo was introduced to the world on Thursday and appears to have a good first impression with the Catholic community in the city.

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David Billy said he’s excited to see what Pope Leo brings to the table.

“Listening to his opening remarks was very hopeful, he seems very humble,” he said. “He was thankful towards Pope Francis, (and) to the cardinals who elected him.”

Pope Leo is American and also a Peruvian citizen, making him the first ever American-born pontiff.

“That was a surprise, I don’t think anybody expected that,” Billy said. “He spent a fair bit of his time as a missionary in Peru (which) probably means that he’s somebody who’s very much in tune with the poor of the world and helping those less fortunate.”

Billy said he is also excited to see Leo build off the legacy of Pope Francis.

“Yes, that’s a good direction for the church,” he said. “Pope Francis was all about inclusion, not pushing people away but trying to bring people together.”

John Hickey was also excited for what Pope Leo would bring.

“Pope Francis had a big vision for the future of the church and that’s what we need right now,” he said. “A unified, magnanimous vision for how we can be as a church in today’s world.”

Hickey said it’s not that important where the pope is from as long as he serves the people with the best intentions.

“It’s about what the man believes in his life that’s important.”

Hickey also said a new pope signals a lot of things to the Catholic community.

“It’s a new chapter here in Canada, it’s a new chapter for us in the same way and I hope this is a jubilee year of hope,” he said.

Jim Tryhuba said it could be a good thing to see a pope from North America.

“Hopefully it’ll inspire some North Americans to go forth and preach the good word,” he said.

Tryhuba said he liked a lot of the things Pope Francis stood for and hopes to see Pope Leo expand on those things.

“I like a lot of his (Pope Francis) stuff being charitable and worried about the poor and immigrants,” he said.

Rita Wolfe was happy to see a new pope elected.

“I think we’re just celebrating marvelously that we have a pope, it’s wonderful news,” she said.

Wolfe said one thing should be the most important thing to Pope Leo in the short term.

“I’m just really hoping in a troubled world, he’s somebody who can truly bring the peace of Christ to the Catholic people and to the world universally,” she said.

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