Historic Conclave Concludes with First Pope from USA

No one saw it coming. It has only taken two days for Catholics to know who will lead them. Yet, St. Peter's successor is an American and first. Many of my fellow writers have already described his background in their articles.

This historic day comes on the 80th anniversary of V-E Day when the Nazi Germans surrendered to the allies. The historic occasion also came on the anniversary of the apparition of St. Michael in Apuila, Italy.

It was there that a bishop and a shepherd prepared a cave for consecration. It would later have many apparitions and miracles attributed to this sacred space.

It is an exciting time for Catholics. It is even more exciting for Catholics in the United States. Pope Leo XIV is an Augustinian, which makes him the first son of St. Augustine to lead Catholics and succeed St. Peter.

Since he was a small boy, he knew that he wanted to priest, yet God had a bigger calling for him and that was to feed, lead, and tend to his sheep.

Now that the conclave is over, Catholics must move forward. As the pope said in his address, we must help “to build bridges with dialogue and encounter so we can all be one people always in peace.”

All we can do now is pray for our new Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV, as he guides us to our goal in life, heaven.

May he lead us with humility, moral courage, and unwavering fidelity.