Parishioners at Kamloops’ Sacred Heart Cathedral talk first North American pope in history

KAMLOOPS — White smoke filled the air in the Vatican City on Thursday (May 8) evening, signaling the election of a new pope, Cardinal Robert Provost, taking the name of Leo XIV and ascending to the highest post in the Catholic church.

Pope Leo XIV presiding over his first mass, a day after he was elected on the fourth ballot by 133 cardinals. Leo, an American-born pontiff, the first North American pope in history.

“To be the pope is a job, or we call a vocation, of insanity. Nobody can possibly keep a billion people together. It’s a job of insanity. But really, that is where the Holy Spirit kicks in. It’s really not the man but he is the instrument the Holy Spirit will use,” said Father Derrick Cameron outside the Sacred Heart Cathedral in Kamloops Friday.

The move to a southside Chicago resident comes as a bit of a surprise to Kamloops parishioners at Sacred Heart Cathedral.

“I don’t base it on that. I base it on what God wants. I think the cardinals were guided by the Holy Spirit and I think they made the right choice,” said Vaughn.

“Well, I was surprised. I wasn’t expecting it. Who was? But I don’t think it really matters where he’s from. I believe it’s the Holy Spirit guiding the church,” added Sharon.

Leo was only a cardinal for a few years, appointed by the late Pope Francis in 2023, leading some to expect his holiness to espouse a similar view.

“Pope Leo XIII was for the workers, he supported the workers. And I think this man, coming in, spending most of his time as a missionary in Peru sees the needs of the people,” said Sharon. “I think he will be more along that line to maybe take us more into social justice or whatever you want to call it.”

“He is his own person but he follows God’s will, and I know that he will do well,” said Vaughn.

For Father Cameron, he understands it’s never easy to keep all 1 billion Catholics happy at the same time with divergent views on the religion, looking for strength and stability from Leo.

“I would ask that Pope Leo be firm in truth and be clear in the teachings so there is no wavering,” said Cameron.