West Texas clergy & parishioners elated new Pope is American
SAN ANGELO, Texas (Concho Valley Homepage) — A wave of emotion as Pope Leo XIV stepped onto a balcony overlooking thousands in St. Peter's square, of those thousands was seminarian and Odessa native Noah Hernandez at the Vatican studying to become a priest.
He watched as the elections took place, each vote black smoke signifying no consensus on who would be voted Pontif, until finally white smoke emerged from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel.
'The crowd of people just is absolutely electric, just this excitement and, and cheering, and just like wow. I'm here in Rome within my first year,' said Hernandez.
Not only with a front row to history, he's had an opportunities many will never have.
'I got to meet Pope Francis in my first four weeks nine months later, we have a New Pope.
and this Italian couple, ah Cardinal Prevost. We're like who is that?,' he said. 'It's an American.'
San Angelo Diocese Bishop Michael Sis met Pope Francis on several occasions, before attending his funeral on April 26th.
Pope Leo XIV however, he's never met but is elated an American will lead the 1.4 Billion Catholics worldwide.
'It excites us because it helps us to see that our church, the American church is in a position of leadership.' he said. 'It just helps us to take more ownership, I think it will also help with our younger because they will identify because they will identify with him more closely when they know he's an American guy that grew up in Chicago. '
The fact the new pope is American surprised so many; Carol Asbill is both a Sacred Heart Cathedral parishioner and administrative assistant.
'Very excited that he is American, was born in Chicago,' she said. 'Totally caught me off guard I never would have thought, but so excited.'
Asbil said the new Pope has the same name as her father, which brought a tear to her eye.
Jimmy Wyble visits the Cathedral Church of the Sacred Heart in San Angelo everyday for an hour.
He moved to the area from Tokyo, Japan in 1977, then became a devout Catholic in 1981.
'I was surprised because there were several others in the running, one from Africa, and one from the Philippines and several others but I was really surprised he got in,' he said. 'I don't know how but by the light of the wholly spirit God picks, and chooses.'
Cathedral Church of the Sacred Heart Monsignor Larry Droll was impressed, even moved by Pope Leo's first words to the world.
'He spoke first of all in Italian because he is the bishop of Rome, that is his primary title, and then he gave a brief presentation also in Spanish recognizing the fact that he served in Peru as a Bishop for many years,' he said. 'And so he has a heart for all those people he was serving with at that time, and those were indications his desire to serve the church, the whole world.'
Noah Hernandez feels blessed to have experienced so much in his first year studying in Rome which will last a lifetime.
'Being able to be sent here to study in Rome, to walk the streets where saints have walked, to meet a Pope and to see a Pope be elected is foundation building,' he said. 'It's part of my experience, that God willing, one day hope to take back to the Parish.'
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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