Bay Area reacts to first American pope: ‘We are being given a seat at the big boy table'
As the first American pope greeted the multitudes at St. Peter's Square Thursday, many Catholics and non-Catholics 10,000 miles away in the Bay Area celebrated the selection of the moderate if not liberal-leaning pontiff — who recently chastised Vice President J.D. Vance 's biblical knowledge in a tweet.
Chicago native Robert Prevost, now christened Leo XIV, is the 267th pope, elected by the church's cardinals to lead the 1.4 billion Catholics worldwide, while holding significant cultural and political sway among the most powerful leaders.
Leo XIV, who spent much of his career in Peru and has dual citizenship there, replaced Pope Francis, who broadened the church's views on LGBTQ issues, while also advocating for action on climate change, immigration and human rights.
In Oakland, Keith Bachman, an Oakland native visiting his parents from Portland, decided to visit the Oakland Cathedral with his sister during their morning walk near Lake Merritt after hearing the news of a new pope.
'We hope that the movement for social justice that Francis started continues,' he said, adding he didn't know much about Prevost. 'We certainly need more people holding up fairness and justice.'
The choice of an American pope, albeit one with a long missionary sojourn in Peru, was unexpected. The United States is predominantly Protestant, as opposed to the Catholic-majority countries that have produced more popes.
Former President Barack Obama offered his sentiments via social media shortly after the announcement.
'Michelle and I send our congratulations to a fellow Chicagoan, His Holiness Pope Leo XIV,' he said. 'This is a historic day for the United States, and we will pray for him as he begins the sacred work of leading the Catholic Church and setting an example for so many, regardless of faith.'
In San Francisco, Father Michael Liliedahl, who is in residence at St. Stephens and director of campus ministry at San Francisco State, said he was indeed surprised by the choice.
'I never expected to have an American pope in my lifetime," he said, adding the fact that the new pope was born and raised in Chicago and educated at Villanova sends the message that the US counts, 'We are being given a seat at the big boy table. The church has always been a very European centered organization.'
But Liliedahl also pointed out that Pope Leo the 14th had done most of his ministry in Peru.
"You can tell his time in Peru and the small villages he worked in had a profound impact on him,' he said. 'At the very very beginning he talked about peace, bringing peace to the family, bringing peace to the world."
Liliedahl noted the new pope's choice of the name Leo.
'Both Leo I and Leo XIII talked about the dignity of the human person,' he said. 'I think there is a great continuity from Francis who would stand up for the human person whether that person be a migrant, the refugee, the unborn, the death row inmate, the outcast, the poor."
Leo XIV has not been afraid to stand up against those sitting in the highest seats of power.
In February, he twice repudiated the views of Vice President Vance, a Catholic, who had argued that prioritizing one's own country is a just and natural 'ordo amoris,' or order of love.
'[Y]ou love your family, and then you love your neighbor, and then you love your community, and then you love your fellow citizens in your own country, and then after that you can focus and prioritize the rest of the world,' Vance said.
'JD Vance is wrong,' Prevost wrote in a Feb. 3 tweet. 'Jesus doesn't ask us to rank our love.'
Prevost then followed it up with another post on Feb.12, citing a letter from Pope Francis that also challenged Vance: 'Christian love,' the former pope wrote, 'is not a concentric expansion of interests that little by little extend to other persons and groups.'
'For many of us, the name Leo XIV happily brings to mind Leo XIII's Rerum novarum which was a blessing for working people,' she said. 'And it is heartening that His Holiness continued the blessing that Pope Francis gave on Easter Sunday: 'God loves everyone. Evil will not prevail.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Newsweek
an hour ago
- Newsweek
Riley Gaines and Simone Biles Beef Online Amid Trans Athlete Debate
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Olympic gold medalist Simone Biles and former collegiate swimmer and conservative activist Riley Gaines have exchanged barbs on social media amid a debate over transgender athletes in sports. Newsweek reached out to press representatives for Biles and Gaines via email on Saturday. Why It Matters A national debate about transgender athletes escalated during the 2024 presidential election cycle, as President Donald Trump pledged to minimize transgender athletes' participation in sports that don't match their biological sex. One of his first executive orders mandated that the government only recognize the existence of two sexes—male and female—which he said are "not changeable." Biles, 28, is the most decorated American gymnast in Olympic history, with 11 medals, including seven gold. She has also earned dozens of world championship medals and complex gymnastic moves have been named after her. She is a prominent voice in both sports and mental health. Gaines, 25, a former collegiate swimmer for the University of Kentucky, has been outspoken in her opposition to transgender policies in sports and is the host of the Gaines for Girls podcast. What To Know On Friday, Riley Gaines reposted a message from the Minnesota State High School League on X, formerly Twitter, of the Champlin Park High School's championship win, writing "comments off lol. To be expected when your star player is a boy." Her comment follows reports that Marissa Rothenberger, a 17-year-old member of the team, is transgender. Newsweek has reached out to the school for comment via email on Saturday. Biles reshared Gaines' post, calling her "truly sick." @Riley_Gaines_ You're truly sick, all of this campaigning because you lost a race. Straight up sore loser. You should be uplifting the trans community and perhaps finding a way to make sports inclusive OR creating a new avenue where trans feel safe in sports. Maybe a transgender... — Simone Biles (@Simone_Biles) June 6, 2025 The post continued: "all of this campaigning because you lost a race. Straight up sore loser. You should be uplifting the trans community and perhaps finding a way to make sports inclusive OR creating a new avenue where trans feel safe in sports. Maybe a transgender category IN ALL sports!! But instead... You bully them... One things for sure is no one in sports is safe with you around!!!!!" In 2022, Gaines tied for fifth place in a competition with swimmer Lia Thomas, a transgender athlete during a collegiate competition. In another post Biles said to Gaines "bully someone your own size, which would ironically be a male." Gaines wrote in response: "This is actually so disappointing. It's not my job or the job of any woman to figure out how to include men in our spaces. You can uplift men stealing championships in women's sports with YOUR platform. Men don't belong in women's sports and I say that with my full chest." (L): Simone Biles, of the United States, holds up her medals after the women's artistic gymnastics individual apparatus finals Bercy Arena at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, in Paris, France. (R):Former collegiate... (L): Simone Biles, of the United States, holds up her medals after the women's artistic gymnastics individual apparatus finals Bercy Arena at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, in Paris, France. (R):Former collegiate swimmer Riley Gaines stands following a news conference after the House passed a measure that would ban transgender women and girls from school sports programs aimed at female students on Capitol Hill, Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025, in Washington. More AP Photo/Charlie Riedel/Mark Schiefelbein In a separate post she added, "My take is the least controversial take on the planet. Simone Biles being a male-apologist at the expense of young girls' dreams? Didn't have that on my bingo card. Maybe she could compete in pommel horse and rings in 2028." In a third post, Gaines wrote, "And the subtle hint at "body-shaming" ???? Plzzzz I'm 5'5." Early into Saturday, Gaines began posting about Biles and the sexual abuse of former Team USA doctor Larry Nassar. Nassar was sentenced to 60 years in federal prison in 2017 over child pornography charges, and in 2018 plead guilty to criminal sexual conduct in Michigan. Gaines shared a clip of Biles testifying about Nassar's actions next to her X post to Gaines, with the caption: "Simone Biles when she had to endure a predatory man Vs Simone Biles when other girls have to endure predatory men." Gaines has continued to share various generated images jabbing at Biles. What People Are Saying Alex Cole, an influencer on X with over 300,000 followers, wrote on X: "Simone Biles has 11 Olympic medals. Riley Gaines has 11 Fox News appearances complaining about people who actually win medals." Payton McNabb, former high school volleyball player and sports ambassador at Independent Women, told Newsweek in an email Saturday: "Female athletes train hard, sacrifice, and compete with heart. They deserve a level playing field, not a rigged system that favors male strength and biology." Brandon Wolf, press secretary for the Human Rights Campaign, said in an X post: "Simone Biles is the GOAT. Riley Gaines is the poster child for turning failure into grift. And that's that on that." President Donald Trump wrote in a Truth Social post earlier this week: "A Biological Male competed in California Girls State Finals, WINNING BIG, despite the fact that they were warned by me not to do so. As Governor Gavin Newscum fully understands, large scale fines will be imposed!!!" White House spokesperson Harrison Fields told Newsweek on Tuesday: "President Trump is protecting women in sports and restoring common sense. Those who choose to violate federal law will be held accountable." What Happens Next The Trump administration has launched multiple investigations into whether sports governing bodies and educational institutions have violated federal antidiscrimination laws, particularly under Title IX.
UPI
an hour ago
- UPI
Trump order seeks to boost U.S. drone industry
The DJI Zenmuse XT drone with aerial thermal imaging camera is displayed at the at the 2016 International CES, a trade show of consumer electronics, in Las Vegas. File Photo by Molly Riley/UPI | License Photo June 7 (UPI) -- President Donald Trump is taking aim at drone technology from two directions -- boost the U.S. industry and crack down on malicious activity. Trump on Friday signed executive orders on efforts to spur U.S. production relevant to drone technology, increase U.S. drone security and regulation efforts, and an unleated one to promote design and eventual use of commercial supersonic aircraft. "Unmanned aircraft systems, otherwise known as drones, offer the potential to enhance public safety as well as cement America's leadership in global innovation," an executive order titled Restoring American Airspace Sovereignty read. "But criminals, terrorists, and hostile foreign actors have intensified their weaponization of these technologies, creating new and serious threats to our homeland. Another order, titled Unleashing American Drone Dominance, declares that "building a strong and secure domestic drone sector is vital to reducing reliance on foreign sources, strengthening critical supply chains and ensuring that the benefits of this technology are delivered to the American people." There are more than a million registered drones in the United States, according to the FAA with more than 400,000 commercial drones and more than 350,000 for recreational use. In a press release, the Commercial Drone Alliance said it has "believed that innovation and security are two sides of the same coin. Outdated regulations have long impeded technological innovation and hindered transparency in our airspace." Lisa Ellman, chief executive of the Commercial Drone Alliance, also lauded the executive orders for aiming at both innovation and security simultaneously. "We fully support the long-overdue steps taken by the Trump administration in these Executive Orders -- establishing a framework to scale safe and secure drone operations while enhancing drone security and airspace transparency -- to modernize our domestic drone policy and assure American aviation leadership into the next century of flight," she said in the release. Drone dangers Trump has warned that drones have been used to smuggle drugs across borders, and could threaten large public gatherings, such as the 2026 World Cup and the 2028 Summer Olympics, both in the United States. "It is the policy of the United States to ensure control over our national airspace and to protect the public, critical infrastructure, mass gathering events, and military and sensitive government installations and operations from threats posed by the careless or unlawful use of UAS," the security related order reads. Chinese-made drones from companies like DJI or Autel are not outright banned, but the Federal Acquisition Security Council has been called on to "publish a Covered Foreign Entity List ... identifying companies that pose supply chain risks." In 2022, the U.S. Treasury added DJI and seven other companies to its Chinese Military-Industrial Complex list, which indicates some level of national security concern. The includes a ban on U.S.-based companies exporting technology to them. The majority of drones are estimated to be built in China, The New York Times reported. The Justice Department and FAA were told to enforce civil and criminal penalties for drone operators who violate laws or airspace restrictions. There will be grants for state and local law enforcement to access drone-detection and tracking equipment. The Federal Aviation Administration requires all drones weighing more than 0.55 of a pound to be registered, in addition to restricting how high they can be flown without authorization. The Justice Department and FAA were told to more robustly enforce civil and criminal penalties for drone operators who violate laws or airspace restrictions. Grant programs are planned for state and local law enforcement to access drone-detection and tracking equipment., the order also indicates Drone industry growth In his first term, Trump sought to increase the use of drones and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has been directed to promote exports of U.S.-made drones, in addition to federal agencies being ordered to prioritize purchases of them. "The United States must accelerate the safe commercialization of drone technologies and fully integrate UAS into the National Airspace System," the order reads. "The time has come to accelerate testing and to enable routine drone operations, scale up domestic production, and expand the export of trusted, American-manufactured drone technologies to global markets." The order directs the FAA to allow commercial users and public safety officials not to fly drones beyond their range of sight, meaning that a user must be able to see the drone they are operating. "Building a strong and secure domestic drone sector is vital to reducing reliance on foreign sources, strengthening critical supply chains, and ensuring that the benefits of this technology are delivered to the American people," the order says. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy was directed to initiate artificial intelligence tools to assist in and expedite the review of a UAS waiver application, and the Transportation Department was told to develop an Electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing Pilot Program to accelerate the deployment of safe and lawful eVTOL operations in the United States. Supersonic flight An additional executive order titled "Leading the World in Supersonic Flight" seeks to promise planes that travel at supersonic speeds, which are greater than the speed of sound at approximately 768 mph at sea level, or Mach 1. "The United States stands at the threshold of a bold new chapter in aerospace innovation," the order reads. "For more than 50 years, outdated and overly restrictive regulations have grounded the promise of supersonic flight over land, stifling American ingenuity, weakening our global competitiveness, and ceding leadership to foreign adversaries." The order noted that "advances in aerospace engineering, materials science, and noise reduction now make supersonic flight not just possible, but safe, sustainable, and commercially viable." The order repeals regulations prohibiting cross-country supersonic flights, which for decades have precluded nonmilitary air travel over land at faster-than-sound speeds. The Concorde was manufactured from 1965 to 1979, but are no longer flown by airlines, however, Boom Supersonic and NASA are currently developing new supersonic passenger jets.
Los Angeles Times
2 hours ago
- Los Angeles Times
Chaos erupts at Paramount Home Depot as protesters confront immigration agents
An hourslong standoff between protesters and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents erupted Saturday morning at a Home Depot in Paramount, as federal officials warned of further immigration raids to come in Los Angeles. The confrontation near a Home Depot at 6400 Alondra Boulevard escalated into a fiery and tumultuous clash. At least one person was injured, ABC-7 reported. Chants of 'Fuera ICE' — ICE, get out —could be heard as flash-bang grenades lit up the scene; it was unclear who deployed the weapons. A Times reporter watched one protester gather a bag of trash and light it on fire in the middle of Alondra Boulevard, half a block away from where immigration agents were gathered. The scene followed raids across Los Angeles on Friday that led to the arrests of 44 people on suspicion of immigration violations, and another on suspicion of obstructing justice. 'Federal law enforcement operations are proceeding as planned this weekend in Los Angeles County,' U.S. Atty. Bill Essayli said on X as the standoff unfolded. 'I urge the public to refrain from interfering with these lawful actions. Anyone who obstructs federal agents will face arrest and prosecution.' In Paramount, a city that is 82% Latino, protesters gathered along Alondra Boulevard after reports that immigration officers were targeting people at a Home Depot, where day laborers commonly gather in search of work. A group of protesters stationed themselves near the Alondra exit of the 710 freeway, as a second gathered at the Home Depot. 'ICE has brought their terror tactics and masked agents to #Paramount this morning — in my district,' wrote U.S. Rep Nanette D. Barragán, whose district includes Paramount, in a post on X. 'This is unacceptable. We will demand answers and accountability. For those out there - please stay safe, protest peacefully, and KNOW YOUR RIGHTS.' By Saturday afternoon, bright orange shopping carts from Home Depot and a blue recycling bin were scattered across the boulevard. The air was acrid with smoke. Helicopter footage from the scene showed law enforcement vehicles blocking access as they closed the road. Border Patrol agents stood lined up. As a white bus with U.S. Marshals Service markings approached the scene, protesters stood in front of the vehicle in an attempt to stop it. Protesters burned an American flag, and others began lining the boulevard with large cement bricks. Federal officials struck an ominous tone. 'Multiple arrests have already been made for obstructing our operations,' FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino said on X. 'More are coming. We are pouring through the videos for more perpetrators. You bring chaos, and we'll bring handcuffs.'
