Kern County Catholics express hope, excitement over introduction of new American Pope

Yahoo

09-05-2025

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — The world's 1.4 billion baptized Catholics watched in wonder and excitement at Thursday's introduction of the new Pope.
That number included Kern County's 240,000 Catholics – many of them quite young. A number of things set Pope Leo XIV apart. One, of course, is that he's an American. Another is that he speaks multiple languages. Perhaps the most remarkable, is that he's only 69-years-old, which means young Catholics will grow up with this Pope.
69-years-old is young for a pontiff, and since the average age of the Pope at his time of death since 1900 has been 78, young Catholics are likely to know Pope Leo as the leader of their religion into young adulthood.
Day 2 of the Conclave was a day of great anticipation for Kern County Catholics, young and old. There was palpable excitement outside downtown Bakersfield's Saint Francis of Assisi Parish.
'It's exciting, very thrilling,' St. Francis parishioner Karen Townsend said early Thursday morning. 'It's a joyful time.'
When the white smoke came, it indicated that the 133 Cardinals in attendance had selected a new Pope.
'To me, this is very good,' said religion educator Dinah Pequeno. 'It comforts me. I trust this process and we're just very excited.'
'We were in Mass and we got a message,' said fourth grade teacher Stephanie Tobias. 'And everyone started whispering and so everyone is super excited.'
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Erica Meyer, principal of Our Lady of Perpetual Help School, saw the Conclave as a learning experience.
'They've been waiting and they know a little bit about it,' she said of her students. 'They've been learning throughout the process, and just very inquisitive.'
'He kept mentioning peace,' said sixth grader Mateo Figueroa. 'I thought that was a good thing for a Pope to care about.'
It's a relationship that will need to grow, as introductions have barely been made.
'I just wanted to know more about him and about what he cares about,' said seventh grader Jiselle Rivera.
One thing that intrigues them – Pope Leo is an American! A Chicago Cubs fan, of all things. He speaks Spanish, French, Portuguese, Italian and, most fluently, English.
'We can, like, understand him and relate to him better,' said seventh grader Annie Pryor.
Adults feel the same way about the American Pope.
'I didn't expect that,' said Nicolette Thomson, who was picking up a toddler from the Our Lady preschool. 'I expected a different continent. Maybe Africa, maybe Asia. But I'm excited to see what an American Pope can bring to the Vatican City.'
'I think for Americans it's probably just national pride more (than anything),' said Jeanne Varga, also picking up a pre-schooler. 'But I think an American Pope, with everything that's going on in the world, is gonna be able to reach out.'
One can only hope. A new generation of Catholics awaits his guidance.
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