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Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Hope for the growth of Catholicism in America under Pope Leo XIV
It wasn't until one afternoon a few days after Cardinal Robert Provost was elected Pope Leo XIV that I really had time to sit down and process what had just transpired in the Catholic Church. I was sitting in an Irish pub that sits on one of the busiest streets in Rome about a mile away from the Vatican. It had been my first afternoon when I didn't have an evening's work ahead of me. The only thing that was ahead of me was a newspaper that I had bought from a street vendor and a pint of Peroni. As I sat at a small table by a window in the pub, I stared at the front page of the paper which featured a smiling Pope Leo with a headline that read 'Un Americano a Roma' (an American in Rome). It finally hit me: I had just witnessed, for the first time in history, an American-born man be elected Pope. During the Conclave, all Vatican credentialed media, myself included, were positioned together on top of one of the colonnades that harbor St. Peter's Square. It gave us a beautiful vantage point allowing us to look down on the massive crowd of people in the Square while also being at eye level with the famed smoke chimney across the way. Just to our left, about 20 yards away, was the balcony which the pope commonly uses to make an address. All squeezed together at the edge of the terrace, we witnessed the white smoke billow out of the chimney. Simultaneously, the crowd below roared so loud that the colonnade shook. The roars of the crowd only got more substantial as Cardinal Mamberti came out on the balcony and proclaimed 'Habemus Papam' (we have a pope). Being a cradle Catholic and a product of the Catholic school system, I knew what that meant. As for the other Latin that Mamberti proclaimed, I was completely lost and couldn't even make out which name he stated. I continued to photograph the happenings while urgently texting Bishop Joe (Joseph Brenner), his team and members of the media back home. I suddenly felt some pats on my shoulder and saw a hand pop up in front of my face. I was startle — I thought I had maybe ruined someone's shot and was about to get smacked in the face over it. To my surprise, the hand that was in my face was being offered to me as a high five. The Italian journalists I had been surrounded by all started uttering 'Americano.' I was a little confused at first and thought, 'maybe they just realized I'm American.' Then the guy who gave me the high five said in broken English, 'the Pope is from your America, Provost.' That was how I found out who the newly elected pope. To be honest, I was surprised by the enthusiasm in which the foreign media had for a pope from America. We eagerly awaited as Pope Leo IX made his first appearance on that balcony and addressed the crowd. As I could sense his address drawing to a close, I was calculating how many Zoom calls I would need to jump on with journalists from the Central Valley. I was also calculating how much time it would take me to get back to a media room in which I could facilitate the calls. Before leaving the terrace of the colonnade, I put my phone in my suit jacket, stood toward the back of the media crowd and, for just a moment, let it all sink in. I felt immense pride in my Catholic faith and to be an American. Sitting at the pub, I contemplated what this newly elected pope meant for the Catholic Church. I am excited for Pope Leo's papacy, and we are already seeing that many younger Americans are also excited — or, at the very least, showing interest in who he is. Since his election, we have seen interviews where his brothers refer to him as 'Rob,' we have established that he is a Chicago White Sox fan and TikTok has had some pretty entertaining Pope Leo content. I had the honor to attend Pope Leo's first press conference. I sat four rows back from the front and got to see his expressions as he spoke. The press conference in which he kicked off with a dad joke had a lot of highlights, including when he said that 'communication creates culture.' The profoundness of that statement is simple yet impactful. He's acknowledging that his communication — what he says and how he says it — will affect not only how the Catholic Church manifests, but also how the spiritual intellect of the people will develop. It is not breaking news that the Catholic Church in America has been pondering how the church will look in the future. It is a church that is working on garnering appreciation and trust from younger generations. I have managed strategic communications for two different dioceses and two different bishops in a span of almost seven years. When it comes to bringing people into or closer to the faith, I have seen the church most successful when we can do two things: humanize the church's teachings and the people who teach them, and meet people where they're at. We all know that it is easier to obtain guidance from someone we trust or relate to. This is not to say that we couldn't trust or relate to previous popes, as they were all benevolent and trustworthy through their pastoral leadership. However, regarding the Catholic Church in America, I anticipate Pope Leo having an advantage in quickly resonating with the people due to our shared nationality. I have already had people of different faiths — and even of no faith — reach out to me and initiate conversations about Pope Leo and the church. The interviews with his brothers, the dad jokes and seeing him try to use FaceTime have already made him relatable. When I've seen this type of Pope Leo content, it instantly reminds me of my grandparents or a great uncle. It makes me and others want to see and learn more of him because we can see a glimpse of our lives in his. This sense of relatability and meeting Americans where they're at will undoubtedly have an impact on the growth of Catholicism in our nation. It shows us that we can be human and, at the same time, be a part of a discipline of faith. To add to this anticipation of growth, you also must take into account the clergy members (deacons, priests and bishops) that serve us in our communities and how they'll take his lead in this style of evangelization. As for Catholicism in the Central Valley, I know first-hand that we have a bishop and many clergy that see the importance of relatability and meeting people where they're at. Whether that be social media or among the marginalized. We are also led by a body of priests, including our bishops, who know the value of humility and continue to be vulnerable in an effort to better reach their flocks. I know from my discussions with Bishop Brennan that he is excited for this new chapter under the leadership of Pope Leo XIV. On behalf of the bishop and the Diocese of Fresno, I ask that you join us in praying for Pope Leo and the growth of the Catholic faith in and beyond our beautiful country. Chandler Marquez is director of communications for the Diocese of Fresno.
Washington Post
25-05-2025
- Politics
- Washington Post
Can Pope Leo remain a U.S. citizen now that he's a foreign head of state?
Pope Leo XIV's election as the first U.S.-born leader of the Catholic Church elevated him to the extremely rare, and legally thorny, position of being an American citizen who now is also a foreign head of state. Born in Chicago as Robert Prevost in 1955, the new pope for the past decade has held dual citizenship in the U.S. and Peru, where he spent time as a missionary and bishop.
Fast Company
25-05-2025
- Business
- Fast Company
Americans are fueling a massive pope economy
It was a fun moment to be online. When the news broke on May 8 that Pope Francis's successor would be the first-ever American to hold the sacred position —and a Chicagoan, no less—social media erupted with celebration and Windy City-specific memes. Within days, some of those memes had morphed into t-shirts for sale. As the conversation around Pope Leo XIV quickly spread to his environmentalist leanings and political opinions, though, the wellspring of unauthorized merchandise spread far beyond novelty shirts that read 'Da Pope.' What has flourished in the days since is a broader pope economy that spans clothing, memorabilia, food, tourism, and more—both in the U.S. and in Rome. Demand in both places appears largely driven by Americans. Stateside fervor for pope merchandise is not without precedent, of course. A pontifical cottage industry sprang up around Pope Francis's 2015 visit to Philadelphia, for instance. Along with t-shirts commemorating the event, Philly streets were flooded with plush pope dolls, life-sized cardboard cutouts, and other pope swag. There was even pope cheese, a mozzarella ball shaped like the bishop of Rome. Considering this level of entrepreneurial excitement marked the occasion of a sitting pope merely visiting the U.S., it's no wonder so many people have found creative ways to capitalize on an American ascending to the papacy. No business like pope business The scope of the pope-based merch empire is already vast. It has a devotional side, with various faith-based online retailers lining up to sell prayer cards, framed portraits, and an insta-book called When the White Smoke Clears: A Guide to Pope Leo XIV's Early Days, which currently has a June 30 release date. Topps offered a limited-release Pope Leo-themed trading card for four days in May, and reportedly sold 133,535 units at $8.99 a pop. (Though the cards are part of a special Topps collection marking significant moments in sports and culture, Pope trading cards date back to the early 1900s.) The Pope Leo cards are now being listed at up to $199 on eBay. For those who would like something a little more three-dimensional, the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum recently put on presale two separate iterations of Pope Leo for $30 each. There's also piping hot content on the way: Castletown Media's forthcoming documentary, Pope Leo XVI: A Pontiff's Path, which is expected to reside on an upcoming faith-based streaming service called CREDO. Perhaps some of the many viewers who made 2025 Oscar nominee Conclave a massive hit on streaming during Pope Leo's election will be among the first to tune in. Unsurprisingly, Chicago has become the white-hot epicenter for stateside Popemania. The merch frenzy includes custom White Sox jerseys, in the wake of Pope Leo's brother dispelling rumors of Cubs fandom and archival video footage confirming his Sox bona fides. The Chicago sports shop Grandstand claimed to Sports Illustrated that their Sox jerseys with the Pope's name on it are outselling those of any other player on the team. The Sox's home, Rate Field, took the team's papal love public, installing a mural of him at the stadium. Beloved Chi-town restaurant chain Portillo's also named a new sandwich The Leo, which it describes as 'divinely seasoned Italian Beef, baptized in gravy.' Meanwhile, in Evanston, Bennison's Bakery is offering limited edition cookies that bear Pope Leo's likeness. Chicago may eventually become an even bigger tourist destination for the faithful. The owner of Pope Leo's now-decrepit childhood church—St. Mary of the Assumption, on Chicago's south side—is reportedly in talks to convert the space into a place of worship for local congregations, with a food pantry named after the new pope. (The Chicago suburb in which he grew up intends to either purchase his childhood home that was up for sale, or obtain it through eminent domain, and allow it 'to be viewed and visited by the public as a historic site.') A lot of the papal tourism, however, is currently taking place in Rome. When in Rome Americans already account for the largest segment of tourist visits to Rome, with a record 2.5 million arriving in 2024 alone, according to The Guardian. Now that an American will occupy the Chair of St. Peter in Vatican City, though, vendors and various service providers are preparing for a full-on religious tourist invasion. Tour companies are reporting an increase in bookings for pilgrimages, especially from Americans. The owner of Atlante Star, a hotel in Rome known for its impressive view over St Peter's Basilica, told The Guardian ahead of Pope Leo's inaugural service on May 18 that the hotel was 'mostly full with people from North America, and not just pilgrims.' And as in Chicago, culinary business owners near the Vatican, including gelato makers and brewers, are offering pope-themed confections to entice American visitors. Out on the streets of Rome, some vendors began to sell posters and trinkets bearing the new pope's name and image within 48 hours of his election. No official Pope Leo XIV holy cards or rosaries have gone on sale yet in the Vatican gift shop, though, nor are any available at many of the other souvenir shops throughout the city, which are reportedly waiting for 'the authorization of the dicastery,' a department within the administrative body of the Holy See, to be able to sell merch celebrating the new pope. Waiting seems like a wise move—and not just because it will give all remaining official Pope Francis merch a chance to sell out. Divine copyright protection The Vatican, it turns out, has a long history of legally protecting the pope's image. Back in 2009, toward the end of Pope Benedict XVI's tenure, the Holy See essentially declared a divine copyright. Citing a 'great increase of affection and esteem for the person of the Holy Father' as contributing to broader use the Pontiff's name and image, the Vatican emphasized that 'it alone has the right to ensure the respect due to the Successors of Peter,' and therefore, to protect the Pope from unauthorized uses of his name, image, or any related symbols. Perhaps inspired by all the papal ephemera Pope Francis and his handlers would have seen during the 2015 trip to the U.S., the Vatican went on the offensive two years later. In 2017, it hired global law firm Baker McKenzie to protect the rights to its intellectual property. (Representatives for Baker McKenzie did not respond to Fast Company's request for comment on the work it may have done, or continues to do, for the Catholic Church.) It's unclear how long it will take for the Vatican to authorize official Pope Leo XIV merch. According to Italian news organization Agenzia Nazionale Stampa Associata, it could be as soon as a matter of weeks. In the meantime, the enterprising souls selling trinkets and sandwiches with the pope's name appear to be taking advantage of a Wild West moment of slow trademark enforcement. In the long haul, those 'Da Pope' shirts made in America fall under the parody allowance in the fair use doctrine, but the online merch store with the audacious URL seems destined for litigation. (The operator of the site did not respond to a request for comment, but WHOIS Domain Lookup shows that it went live on May 9 and operates out of Reykjavik.) Retailers selling rosaries decorated with Pope Leo's face, and supposedly blessed by him, may be able to operate unimpeded for the moment. If any folks operating unauthorized shops are religious, though, a much greater punishment than litigation could serve as a deterrent.
New York Times
21-05-2025
- Business
- New York Times
Chicago Suburb Plans to Acquire Pope Leo XIV's Childhood Home
The Chicago suburb where the first American pope spent some of his boyhood is seeking to acquire his childhood home. If it can't work out a way to buy it, it will take it. 'The Village of Dolton intends to purchase this home either through direct purchase or through their eminent domain powers,' wrote Burton S. Odelson, an attorney for the village of Dolton, Ill., in a letter sent to Paramount Realty USA, a real estate auction firm that had already begun collecting bids for the property. 'The Village intends to work with the Chicago Archdiocese and other agencies to allow the home to be viewed and visited by the public as a historic site.' It's the latest development for the modest three-bedroom house after it was put up for auction last week with Paramount. Acquiring the house via eminent domain would allow the village of Dolton to take the private property for public purposes, though the government would have to pay 'fair compensation' to the owner, according to the letter. The seller, Pawel Radzik, 'is excited to have the potential opportunity to work with the church, the archdiocese and the village of Dolton to purchase the property,' said Steve Budzik, the real estate broker representing the property. Mr. Radzik, 36, bought the home in 2024 for $66,000 with a plan to renovate and flip it. 'Ultimately, what happens is up to the owner of the property,' said Misha Haghani, the CEO and founder of Paramount. 'We're just advisers here.' The brick home, which had been listed for 199,900, suddenly became a historic site when Pope Leo XIV was introduced to the world earlier this month. The pontiff, who grew up as Robert Francis Prevost, spent at least some of his childhood in the house on 141st Place, about 30 minutes south of downtown Chicago. His father, Louis Prevost, sold the house in 1996 after almost 50 years, according to county records. After receiving only a handful of offers in recent months, Mr. Budzik and Mr. Radzik were inundated with a sudden rush almost immediately following the conclusion of the conclave. Mr. Budzik and Mr. Radzik quickly pulled the house off the market as they worked out their next steps. Unable to settle on a price, they turned to Paramount, which started the auction and began collecting bids. The auction is set to conclude June 18. The village's letter outlining its intent to acquire the home was sent to the auction house on Tuesday. Mr. Odelson, the village's attorney, said in an interview that he has been in touch with the seller's team and that negotiations are 'open now.' He said he hopes to avoid eminent domain, which would entail an expensive and lengthy legal process. Using eminent domain, Mr. Odelson said, 'keeps the home in the news and not the light that the village or the church want. We don't want it to be a controversy; we want it be a sacred site.'
Washington Post
19-05-2025
- Washington Post
There's an American pope, and he's just like us. At least, we really, really want him to be
WASHINGTON — By the middle of last week, it became clear that something odd was happening. It was about the time that the fake video started circulating about the woman purporting to recount the 'situationship' she'd had with Robert Prevost, the new American pope, decades ago when he was just another guy from Chicago .
