Area Catholic leaders, visitors in Rome react to new pope's election

Yahoo

09-05-2025

A group of Northeast Pennsylvania residents witnessed history.
A group of 48 people from Luzerne and Lackawanna counties traveling with Scranton agency TravelWorld arrived in Vatican City when the papal conclave began Wednesday and were in Rome on Thursday when the conclave elected Cardinal Robert Prevost as pope.
Prevost, who took the name Leo XIV, is the first American pope to lead the church.
The group had already left the Vatican and were at dinner in another part of Rome when white smoke billowed from a chimney near the Sistine Chapel, said Matt Kizis, owner of TravelWorld. The group erupted in cheers.
'Everybody was smiling because everybody feels it,' he said.
As the group celebrated the new pontiff, local religious leaders reacted to the new leader of the Roman Catholic Church.
Both the Most Rev. Joseph Bambera, bishop of Scranton, and the Rev. Thomas Looney, president of King's College in Wilkes-Barre, noted the historic ending to the conclave Thursday afternoon.
Looney noted the pope's chosen name, Leo, and the connection to King's College, which is affiliated with the Congregation of Holy Cross.
'It is a wonderful surprise to have a pope born, raised, and ordained in the United States. And it is a special joy for us at King's College that Cardinal Prevost chose the name Leo,' he said in a statement. 'The coat of arms of Leo XIII, who taught about the dignity of human labor and advocated for justice, is part of the College's official seal. Pope Leo XIV will be an advocate for the poor and the marginalized as a means to peace.'
In a statement, Bambera called on the faithful in the Diocese of Scranton to pray for the new pope and said his experience working with the poor will be beneficial to him.
'While the election of Pope Leo XIV is historic as the first North American to be elected Pope, his vast missionary experience of walking among the poor and serving those on the margins with humility, will serve him well as he echoes Christ's call of going forth and making disciples of all nations to all people,' he said. ''With this selection, I believe the Cardinals have recognized the vibrancy, faithfulness, and strength of the Church in the United States. For generations, American Catholics have sought to embrace the Gospel with compassion — and having a shepherd chosen from among us is both humbling and affirming. It also speaks to the goodness that has grown in the church of North America — a goodness bearing fruit in service and evangelization.'
While Prevost didn't come up on most media lists of potential popes, University of Scranton Vice President for Mission and Ministry Daniel Cosacchi had Prevost on his short list for the role because of his alliance with Pope Francis. Under Francis' papacy, Prevost was named bishop of Peru in 2013 and head of the office of the Dicastery for Bishops a few years ago, he said.
Cosacchi, an expert in the papal conclave, said Prevost struck people as a moderate, carrying on the main points of Pope Francis' legacy and his pontificate, and that as a missionary in Peru he has experience in the global church.
He said Prevost's historic appointment was remarkable to him from on a professional and personal level.
'I am joining people all around the world in praying for Pope Leo the XIV and I'm very excited and hopeful to see how he'll lead the church,' he said.
The tour group arrived in Venice last Thursday before arriving in Rome earlier this week.
While in Rome, they visited the Colosseum and several spots in Vatican City, including St. Peter's Basilica, the Papal Basilica of St. Mary Major and the Vatican Museum. Kizis said the visits to the sites were planned before the conclave, allowing the group to visit them.
While at the Basilica of St. Mary Major, Pittston resident Tom Harfman, an escort with Travel World, was able to see the tomb where the late Pope Francis was buried.
'It was overwhelming because everybody loved him so much,' he said.
One site they were unable to visit was the Sistine Chapel, which was closed to the public during the conclave. They were able to see the entrances to the chapel, which were guarded.
While in the Vatican, they had a view of the smokestack affixed to the top of the chapel but weren't able to see the black and eventually white smoke that emitted from it. However, being in the city, they quickly learned when the white smoke came from it.
Those on the tour said the city was busy because this year marks a jubilee year in the church, but the conclave made it even busier. Kizis, who traveled with the Travel World group for the first time and holds dual American and Italian citizenship, estimated the group was among 250,000 people who came to Vatican City to see the new pope.
On the streets, he heard people reciting prayers in multiple languages, talking about the future pope and expressing awe at the tradition of electing a pope.
'It was interesting because there's people from every corner of the world that are out there here at Rome, the Vatican specifically, and it's one of those things that it reminded me that no matter how defined the world may seem, faith brings everybody together,' he said. 'It was a very unique experience.'
Mark Rowan of Pittston and Wilkes-Barre resident Bob Reilly are among the group. Reilly said the enthusiasm he experienced in the crowds around him is something he will never forget. He also said the security is immense and makes them feel safe.
Rowan, who is in Italy for the first time, said seeing so many people from around the world makes him and his fellow travelers feel like they are part of something big.
'The little towns of Wilkes-Barre and Pittston are represented over here but it's a small grain of salt on a big beach over here,' he said.
Kizis said as a lifelong Catholic who graduated from the former Bishop O'Reilly High School in Kingston, being in Rome as a new pope was elected was special.
John Madden, sales manager for the travel company that has offices in Kingston and Scranton, helped plan the trip and regularly heard from his colleagues during the trip.
While he said Thursday morning he wished he was with the group as they experience the conclave, he will be able to see the new pope in August, when a group of 100 pilgrims from the Diocese of Scranton travels to Italy for a Jubilee pilgrimage.
That trip will include a papal audience.
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A group of people from Luzerne and Lackawanna County travelled to Italy this month and were in Rome during the papal conclave, which selected Robert Prevost, who took the name Pope Leo XIV as the new pope. (Submitted)
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A group of people from Luzerne and Lackawanna County travelled to Italy this month and were in Rome during the papal conclave, which selected Robert Prevost, who took the name Pope Leo XIV as the new pope. (Submitted)
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A group of tourists from the region happen to be in Rome at a historic time, as the as the leaders of the Roman Catholic Church begin deliberations for a new Pope. The group from TravelWorld gathered in St. Peter's Square. (TravelWorld)
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A group of people from Luzerne and Lackawanna County travelled to Italy this month and were in Rome during the papal conclave, which selected Robert Prevost, who took the name Pope Leo XIV as the new pope. (Submitted)
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