Grad School with the Pope

Over sub sandwiches in a small town in Ohio while on a work trip, I sat with a coworker watching and waiting, eyes fixed on St. Peter’s Square. We had seen the white smoke just as we started lunch and were thrilled with the timing…so we waited…and waited. The crowd was amazing. The band got us excited.

Finally, … the doors open. And I realized I needed to switch us from the Vatican coverage to a US news site to get a translation because my Latin is not great because did I hear that right? As I switched us to the US news stream we realized I did, it was the name of an American and we have Pope Leo XIV.

I did not see that coming. 

Then a friend texted to tell me that he graduated from Catholic Theological Union in Hyde Park where I received my Master’s. Now my lifelong trivia will be that I went to the same grad school as the Pope. 

Media coverage is already speculating about what sort of papacy he will have. Does the choice of Leo mean he will emphasize social justice as a previous Pope Leo created the idea? Will he champion workers as the most recent Pope Leo did? Will he be a version of Pope Francis? What does it mean that he is an Augustinian? 

Here is what I do know, thanks to that grad degree. We don’t know. We can have some educated guesses, but Popes are often full of surprises as they are moved by the Spirit as they respond to the Universal Church. 

This is a Pope who is experienced in the Curia and in mission. This is a Pope who is formed and lived in community. This is a Pope who has lived across borders. This is a Pope who if nothing else, needs our prayers. Let us keep Pope Leo XIV in our prayers knowing we will be surprised. Let us trust in the Spirit, entreat the Spirit, knowing it may comfort, challenge, encourage, restart, rebuild, nurture, surprise…

Whether you are thrilled or dismayed, hopeful or cautious, we are just in the early moments of what will hopefully be a long and blessed papacy. Ultimately, Pope Leo XIV is one of 267 popes in a history stretching over 2,000 years. We are a faith that looks at the long view. He, like each of us is one of the countless Children of God throughout history who play a critical part in the story God is writing. Let us pray for Pope Leo, let us pray for the Church - the institution and each of us who are the People of God. Let us pray for the Spirit. Let us pray.