CORAL GABLES, Fla. – After white smoke rose out of the Sistine Chapel’s chimney in Vatican City, the bells from the Church of the Little Flower in Coral Gables and other churches in South Florida started tolling.
The church’s Rev. Manuel F. Alvarez, better known as “Father Manny,” was across the street with a group of St. Theresa School students.
“There were about 30 1st-graders inside the classroom and they just went nuts when they saw the white smoke,” Alvarez said. “I never thought they would elect an American Pope in my life time.”
Cardinal Protodeacon Dominique Mamberti introduced Pope Francis’s successor, Cardinal Robert F. Prevost, of Chicago, who had taken the name Leo XIV.
The new pope, formerly known as “Bob” in Chicago’s South Holland suburb, made history as the first from the United States, and the second from the Americas after Pope Francis from Argentina.
“It is a joyful day for the church,” Alvarez said.
“We need a leader and he’s the closest to God,” said Wilfredo Conception, a member of Good Shepherd’s Catholic Church.
Noon report:
The students watched on television when the new leader of the church made his first appearance from a red-draped balcony at St. Peter’s Basilica.
“Peace be with all of you,” said the new pope, also the 267th Bishop of Rome, before the crowd of about 300,000 at St. Peter’s Square.
Pope Leo XIV was known as “Roberto” when he served as an Augustinian missionary in Peru’s city of Trujillo. He also served as Peru’s archbishop of Chiclayo.
“God loves us; God loves everyone,” the pope said as he read a statement before his solemn blessing.
Some parishioners say they pray the new pope will address divisive issues in the US like immigration.
During the secretive conclave, the new pope, who was among the 10 electors from the U.S., secured at least 89 out of the 133 cardinals’ votes.
Four of the electors from the U.S. were archbishops Blase Cupich, of Chicago; Timothy Dolan, of New York; Joseph Tobin, of Newark; and Robert McElroy of Washington.
Two of them were retired archbishops Wilton Gregory, of Washington; and Daniel DiNardo, of Galveston-Houston.
The other three were cardinals James Michael Harvey, born in Milwaukee; Raymond Burke, born in Richland Center; and Kevin Farrell, who was born in Dublin but served for years in Dallas and Washington, D.C.
Watch Pope Leo XIV emerge from balcony
Watch Pope Leo XIV deliver 1st statement
Watch Pope Leo XIV’s 1st blessing
‘Father Manny’ reacts to Leo XIV announcement
Watch coverage of history in the making