As Cardinal Robert Prevost’s name was announced from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, seminarians at Kenrick-Glennon Seminary jumped from their seats with an explosion of cheers when they realized that a pope from North America had been chosen.
The seminarians were among Catholics around the archdiocese watching and welcoming the new Pope Leo XIV, a Chicago native, who was introduced from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica early Thursday afternoon, local time.
At Holy Infant School in Ballwin, the gym echoed with praise and worship music, then cheers, as the students witnessed the introduction of the first new pope in the majority of the student body’s lifetime.
“When I heard that he was the first American pope, I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, this is crazy,’ because it’s the first (papal election) I get to witness,” eighth grader Bennett McCluskey said. “Especially since he’s from the Midwest, that’s really cool.”
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St. Louis Catholics overjoyed to receive first pope from North America

As Cardinal Robert Prevost’s name was announced from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, seminarians at Kenrick-Glennon