Young Catholics find hope in American pope who sees a bigger picture

Emily Richardson, 31, of Omaha, who was raised in a devout Catholic and military family, never thought she’d see an American pope.

Perhaps an Asian, if the Holy Spirit would “throw us a curveball,” she said. Maybe an African.

“I was actually in the drive-thru for Panera Bread, and they announced Pope Leo and said he was American. And I quite honestly squealed a little bit, so much so I’m sure if anyone else heard me they would have thought I was in pain. It was so shocking.”

Young adult Catholics in Nebraska who spoke to the Catholic Voice feel a bond with the Chicago-born pope because of his American and Midwestern roots. But beyond that, they see a leader for the entire world who embraces Church tradition, has demonstrated a commitment to the poor and, they believe, has shown an interest in offering a roadmap for preserving human dignity in times of astonishing technological advancement.

They expressed surprise, excitement and hope in the May 8 election of Pope Leo XIV, saying his papacy could ignite more interest in the Catholic faith, foster unity and grow the faithful.

As the first American pope, the new Holy Father will have a special kinship with his flock in the United States, said Carrie Black, 26, of Lincoln.

“You feel something closer; it’s almost like you grew up next to him, in the same neighborhood,” she said.

The young people expect that he will build on the work of Pope Leo XIII, who led the Church during the Industrial Revolution of the late 19th Century and addressed the plight of the worker in a groundbreaking encyclical.

The new pope not only understands American culture, he speaks English, so, to Americans, his words should leave little room for spin or misinterpretation, they said.

‘RELATABLE AND FAMILIAR’

Richardson said she believes he will energize the Church – an opportunity for a much-needed revival.

“I’m feeling rather re-energized as a Catholic myself,” she said.

Emily Richardson

Millennials are connecting with him because he’s younger than some popes – 69 years old – closer to her parents’ age, she said.

“He’s already been immersed in our culture, and I think people are going to see that as relatable and familiar.”

VATICAN MEDIA

Richardson, coming from a family with German roots, said she “absolutely loved” Pope Benedict XVI; however, not everyone around the world could relate to his heritage. But the United States is a melting pot, she said.

“I’m not saying everyone’s going to relate to an American pope, but when so much of our culture is a melting pot, so much of our culture is widely spread, or at least has influence, I think that’s going to be more accepted on a global scale,” she said.

She’s not worried that the new pope will stray from Church teaching.

The Catholic Church is founded by Christ and rooted in truth, she said. “The pope, being the head of our Church, I know will not go against doctrine.”

‘EVERYONE CARES ABOUT THIS’

Black, of Lincoln, is a 2022 convert from Lutheranism to Catholicism. 

A key factor in her conversion was embracing the reality of apostolic succession – the belief in a line of succession in Church leadership back to the Apostles.

This was her first experience of a conclave and the election of a pope since becoming Catholic.

“What struck me was how invested and how excited non-Catholics and non-Christians were as well,” she said. “It’s like everyone cares about this, everyone’s invested in this, and there’s an implicit understanding that this is important for not only Catholics but for the whole world.”

Carrie Black

Leo can be a beacon, she said, leading Americans to “what we’re actually made for.” She appreciates the extensive time and work he spent with the poor in Peru, showing he has a heart for those people, she said.

“I hope and anticipate him leading our culture in the direction in which it’s meant to go,” she said.

Ryan Yang, 26, of Lincoln, who grew up in Fresno, California, and works in Nebraska state government, was at the Capitol when the white smoke came.

The selection makes sense to him – that America would produce, and God would choose, a pope from this country. Historically, most popes were Italian or Italian nobility, selected from Rome, the seat of power for hundreds of years.

“So, too,” Yang said, “has the United States filled that power role on the world stage. So it makes sense to me that, from the way things historically pan out, that there would be an American pope at some point. Now I didn’t think it would be within our lifetime.”

If the United States is going to be exerting a lot of influence upon the world, as it has been, “it makes sense to have a pope who understands that dynamic, you know, and who can push and pull on the dynamic as needed,” he said.

SETTING A TONE

While having an American pope is “very cool from a historical perspective,” Yang said he’s excited for another reason: the name he chose.

Pope Leo XIII, Yang said, was “pretty much the pioneer of Catholic social teaching.”

“When he chose the name Leo, I actually freaked out way more over that,” Yang said. “I was pretty much ecstatic.”

The name continues a lineage of popes who were “pretty awesome,” and it indicates a change in tone and mission, he said.

“That makes me very excited because Leo XIII was writing in a pretty dark time when the Industrial Revolution was happening,” Yang said. “People were being used like material objects just to satisfy the means of production.”

Pope Leo XIII

Leo XIII issued the 1891 encyclical “Rerum Novarum” addressing the condition of the working classes. He noted the “enormous fortunes of some few individuals and the utter poverty of the masses.” Leo XIII rejected socialism as the solution, dismissing the notion of perpetual class warfare. Instead, he called on people to embrace Christian morality to achieve harmony.

He wrote that “there is no intermediary more powerful than religion . . . in drawing the rich and the working class together.”

Yang is hopeful that the new pope will speak openly about the dignity of the unborn in modern times and the implications of artificial intelligence and human cloning for human dignity.

TECHNOLOGY

The new pope already signaled an awareness of modern technological challenges, referencing the Leo XIII encyclical in a May 10 address to the College of Cardinals.

Yang said he appreciates that the new pope has emphasized that the way forward is to invite people into the mystery of faith, of the liturgy and of God himself.

“I found that incredibly impactful,” he said. “This man understands what our modern world is like. And I think he’s going to set up the future for how Catholicism, more or less, behaves in the modern, technological world.”

Software engineer Cole Nardini, 30, and his wife, Claire, 28, of Omaha, have a son, Simon, 15 months. She cares for Simon and works part-time as a counselor.

Cole, who grew up Catholic in Millard and attended St. Pius X/St. Leo School and Millard South High School, is encouraged by the new pope’s apparent willingness to address technology.

“From my perspective,” he said, “no one’s explicitly addressed the internet age, the computer technological age that we live in now. I mean, the iPhone hadn’t been out yet when John Paul II died. Benedict was Pope when the iPhone came out, and that completely revolutionized our social interactions and how we view the world because everything was on a computer in our pocket.”

There are no guiding ethics or principles on AI, he said. “Whoever is making the AI is defining what is good and what is bad.” 

Cole said he worries about what future lies ahead for Simon.

“I’ve been thinking a lot about, like, Simon’s going to grow up in another 20 years. It might be really hard to discern what’s real and what’s not.”

SEEMS NATURAL

Cole said he’s pleased that Pope Leo XIV seems to be embracing traditions of the papacy, like living in the papal palaces and wearing the papal garments. 

“He seems to have an incredible Marian devotion, which I’m excited about,” he said.

Cole said it seems natural to have an American pope.

“The Church in America feels like it’s taking a leadership role, where other parts of the world, or at least other wealthy parts of the world, the Church seems to be collapsing or just trying to get by,” he said.

Claire had just arrived home from running some errands and was about to put Simon down for a nap when the white smoke appeared and she watched a live stream.

CNS/VATICAN MEDIA

She was shocked at the selection of an American and touched when the new pope emerged on the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica and a camera closeup showed tears welling up in his eyes.

“It was just so moving to see that, to see how moved he was coming out and recognizing and realizing his position,” she said.

Claire believes his pastoral work in Peru and doctorate degree in canon law lay a good foundation for his papacy.

‘WHOLE WORLD WAS WATCHING’

Cole and Claire said the election of Leo could help grow the Church.

Interest in the conclave went beyond just Catholics, she said.

“It piqued peoples’ interest,” Claire said. “The whole world was watching. It wasn’t just the Catholics. So much media, and everyone there. I think that’s really good for the Church.”

For people of other faiths, the papacy is one of the more controversial aspects of the Church. But for Claire, it speaks to the truth of the Catholic Church because you can follow the succession directly to Christ.

The new pope’s relatability – he’s already been seen joking with American reporters and reportedly donning a Chicago White Sox baseball hat – is a good thing, she said.

Black said that although the election of a pope can be viewed as political, it’s been helpful to her to know that the Holy Spirit is at work in the process of choosing a pope, God’s own vicar for His Church.

“How will God work through his vicar,” she asked, “to sanctify America and the whole Church?”

Despite all the optimism, she has one small disappointment with him.

“I was bummed to hear that Pope Leo is a White Sox fan because I’m a big Cubs fan,” she said.