15-05-2025
Welcoming Pope Leo XIV: Members flock to St. Augustine's Parish for special service
ANDOVER — The Rev. Peter Gori was performing a funeral Mass at St. Augustine's Parish about noon last Thursday when the news broke that a new pope had been chosen.
He said after the funeral, people kept asking him one question over and over: If he knew Pope Leo XIV.
'I said, 'Yes, every Augustinian in the world knows him,'' Gori said with a laugh.
The Andover parish is an Augustine Catholic community. Augustinians follow the Rule of St. Augustine and his intentions to pursue the love of God through the unity of minds and hearts. There is a commitment to serve the church wherever the church needs its followers to go or service.
About noon local time, and 6 p.m. at the Vatican, white smoke billowed out of the chimney atop the Sistine Chapel to alert the world that a new pope was selected.
The cardinal conclave met for about two days, coming to at least a two-thirds vote to select Chicago-born Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, 69, as the 267th pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church.
Prevost chose Leo XIV as his papacy namesake and addressed the crowd at the Vatican with an emotion-filled speech and prayer from the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica. The moment was a historic one, as he became the first American pope.
'Naturally as an Augustinian, I'm very proud of him,' Gori said. He described the new pope as young and 'a very nice fellow, quiet and known for being calm.'
Leo XIV was the Order of St. Augustine's superior general more than a decade ago. There are about 2,000 Augustinians globally.
His chosen name of Leo XIV may have given some indication to his papacy and called it a beautiful choice, Gori added.
'I suspect he is a good admirer of Pope Leo XIII,' he said. Leo XIII was the last to select the name Leo in 1878. Leo XIII was an advocate for workers rights. The Andover priest added that Catholics may see a 'gentle continuation' of Francis' ideals, values and teachings based on the namesake.
Gori said the fact that an American was chosen was a surprise to many, including himself. For Gori, the news was a shock to hear an American had been selected because of the amount of turbulence in the United States, and caused by the United States, over the last several months.
'I'm sure Catholics in America will pay close attention and maybe sometimes find themselves trying to defend what he says because he is a fellow countryman,' Gori said. 'But he will hopefully see a great outpouring of love and affection from Catholics here in the United States.'
It wasn't a 'safe bet,' Gori said, for an American to be chosen, but noted how the conclave has recently chosen non-Italians to lead the church.
'In some ways, the world is getting smaller, but the pope importantly belongs to everyone,' Gori said. 'He will be carrying a Vatican passport now and not an American one.'
Others in the community responded to the new pontiff and their hopes for the Catholic Church.
Pastor John Delaney of Sacred Hearts Parish in Haverhill said he was surprised to hear that an American was selected.
'But, what I've heard is that he's going to be great,' he said. 'He seems to be very gentle, personable, approachable, and a fine successor to Pope Francis.'
Boston Archbishop Richard Henning joined Catholics in the Archdiocese of Boston and around the globe in celebrating the pope's election.
'We pray for him as he begins this ministry as the Vicar of Christ and the Bishop of Rome,' Henning said. 'May he be for us a visible source and foundation of communion in faith.'
'I have been representing clergy sexual abuse victims or survivors worldwide for decades,' the Law Offices of Mitchell Garabedian said in a press release.
Garabedian is best known as an attorney who represents victims of sexual abuse by clergy.
'Hopefully, Pope Leo XIV will actually create effective programs to help clergy sexual abuse victims try to heal, screen and supervise priests and prevent clergy sexual abuse. The Catholic Church has to understand that the safety of innocent children cannot be sacrificed for an outdated and inexcusable need to protect the reputation of the Catholic Church.'
