Like the rest of the country, Fr. Becket Franks, OSB, wasn’t prepared for the shock of seeing an American — let alone his high school friend in west Michigan — step out onto the loggia above St. Peter’s Square on May 8. As the curtains drew back and the words “Dominum Robertum Franciscum Prevost” were spoken by the cardinal proto-deacon, he nearly fell out of his chair.

“I started screaming. I was in the kitchen, and the monks came running in, thinking something was wrong,” Fr. Franks said. “And I said, ‘My high school classmate just got named pope!’”

detroitcatholic.com

High school classmate recalls new pope as smart, caring and humble class leader - Detroit Catholic

The young Robert Prevost — now Pope Leo XIV — went out of his way to help others at St. Augustine Seminary High School in west Michigan