Latest news with #Misko
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
‘Quite a privilege'; Diocese of Austin celebrates election of first American Pope
AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Catholic Church on Thursday experienced a moment of history when cardinals elected the first-ever U.S. pope. Chicago-born missionary Robert Prevost, a 69-year-old member of the Augustinian religious order who spent his career ministering in Peru, was named the 267th pontiff. He took the name Leo XIV. Robert Prevost, first pope from US in history of the Catholic Church, takes the name Leo XIV Catholic communities across the world celebrated the news of the new leader of the Catholic Church, who replaced Pope Francis after his death last month. In Central Texas, a Catholic population of more than 700,000 covered by the Austin Diocese is undoubtedly marking the occasion. Diocesan Administrator Father James Misko joined KXAN to talk about the historic moment. The Austin Diocese is currently without a Bishop as of late March, when its former Bishop Joe Vasquez stepped into the role of Archbishop of Galveston-Houston. Misko is the priest appointed during the interim, until a new Bishop is appointed. 'When it happened, it was just overwhelming, of course, as a Catholic priest, to see the new Holy Father come out, and then to realize, wow, he's an American,' Misko said of Pope Leo XIV. 'This is quite a privilege for us. What an honor for us to be able to have the Holy Father be an American.' Misko said he was in a finance council meeting for the Austin Diocese when white smoke billowed from a chimney of the Sistine Chapel, signaling the election of a new pope. He said he stopped the meeting immediately and everyone at the meeting gathered around his laptop. Austin Catholic community mourns death of Pope Francis 'It was just really a magnificent moment for us,' Misko said. 'We knew that he was one of the papabile — these are the Cardinals that prognosticators thought could be the next pope,' he explained. 'It was about 10 or 12 of them, and so we heard his name, but I didn't expect that.' Misko thinks Pope Leo XIV's background is important to his new role because he 'has experienced both with his feet on the ground in a diocese with people, and also at the Vatican with the important work of running the universal church,' Misko said. Pope Francis brought Prevost to the Vatican in 2023 to assume the presidency of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America, which is the powerful head of the office that vets bishop nominations from around the world, according to reporting from the Associated Press. It's one of the most important jobs in the Catholic Church. Robert Prevost becomes first American pope of the Catholic Church: What to know Prior to that, Prevost was twice elected prior general, or top leader, of the Augustinian religious order, the 13th-century order founded by St. Augustine, per the AP. Francis moved him from the Augustinian leadership back to Peru in 2014 to serve as the administrator and later archbishop of Chiclayo. He remained in that position, acquiring Peruvian citizenship in 2015, until Francis brought him to Rome in 2023. Misko posted a message on the Diocese of Austin's website on Thursday, celebrating the election of Prevost. Our hearts are filled with joy and gratitude for our new Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV. In God's good providence and with the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, the Cardinals have provided the Church with a new shepherd. We ask God to fill him with grace and wisdom to sanctify the Church in unity, teach with truth and mercy, and lead us to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ by our lives. Our time in history is marked by profound and complex challenges. We look to the Holy Father to be a voice that speaks not only for Catholics but for all humanity, bearing witness to the hopes, struggles, and dignity of every person created in God's image. As the rock, Pope Leo XIV now endeavors to embed himself onto the mountain of God so that we might have a foothold by which to pull ourselves ever closer to heaven in this life. May the Lord grant him strength in accepting the weight of this sacred office and may he be a faithful Vicar of Christ on earth. Invoking the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, we ask the Lord Jesus Christ, the Eternal High Priest, to guide Pope Leo XIV as he begins his Petrine ministry to the glory of God and for the good of God's people. Sincerely in Christ,Very Reverend James A. MiskoDiocesan Administrator St. Mary Cathedral in Austin will host a Mass of Thanksgiving for Pope Leo XIV shortly after noon on Friday. The Mass will also be streamed online. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Pope Leo XIV: Diocese of Austin speaks on the new pope
The Brief Pope Leo XIV was selected as the new pope in Rome on May 8 The Diocese of Austin is awaiting its new bishop AUSTIN, Texas - For the last 24 hours, the world's attention has been focused on the Vatican in Rome. Here in Austin, the Diocese is awaiting a new leader of its own. Local perspective The Diocese of Austin has anticipated the moment a new pope would be selected and is anxiously awaiting his designation as a bishop. Bells rang throughout Downtown Austin, coming from Saint Mary Catholic Cathedral in celebration of history being made as the first-ever American Pope was chosen to lead the Catholic Church on Thursday. "It was really like a double gift for us to have a new Holy Father and that he was an American," said Father James Misko, Diocesan Administrator for the Diocese of Austin. "It's just incredible for us." An American flag was seen waiving after the announcement as the world ushered in Cardinal Robert Prevost, who is taking the name of Pope Leo XIV. "We're overjoyed, obviously," said Misko. "As Catholics, we've been waiting in anticipation now for a couple of days. This was the fifth vote of the conclave." With his background leading the dicastery for the bishops, which is the department that helps the pope select bishops, the Diocese of Austin hopes this will speed up the process of picking their next leader, since the Austin bishop was appointed as archbishop of Galveston-Houston. "He certainly knows how bishops are selected, and so we hope that that maybe advances that process a little bit quicker," said Misko. Prior to his recent role in Rome, Pope Leo XIV was the bishop of the Diocese of Peru with his hands in the administration of governing a local church. "He understands what it's like to run parishes in dioceses, and he also has experience working in the Vatican," said Misko. "I think that's going to really be great for him to be able to understand both sides of how the church operates." Many people feel his experience makes him a well-rounded leader, and they look forward to learning more about Pope Leo XIV. The Source Information from interviews conducted by FOX 7 Austin's Katie Pratt
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Pope Francis dies: Austin Catholics mourn loss of pontiff
The Brief Pope Francis died at the age of 88 on April 21 His cause of death was revealed by the Vatican — Pope Francis died from a stroke that led to heart failure Central Texas Catholics spoke about the loss of Pope Francis AUSTIN, Texas - Catholics in Central Texas are mourning Pope Francis, and reflecting on his unique legacy. There are also questions about how the pontiff's passing could impact the selection of a new bishop in Austin. Local perspective The bells tolled at noon Monday at St. Mary Cathedral in Downtown Austin, as they do every day, but inside the mass felt anything but ordinary. Parishioners gathered for a special and somber mass, just hours after the passing of Pope Francis. "It was with sadness, of course, that we received that news, but certainly with gratitude for his over 12 years of just wonderful service," said Fr. James Misko, who currently oversees the Austin diocese. Misko reminisced about his own meeting with the pontiff. "I took him with my two hands, his hand in my two hands," said Misko. "He was just so welcoming and so friendly." Misko says Francis lived up to his nickname as "the people's pope" for many Catholics in Austin. "Certainly, we are on the southern border here in the United States. And so his desire to reach out to the peripheries, those most in need, the poor, certainly immigrants, have been part of his papacy," said Misko. Fr. John Dougherty leads St. Ignatius Martyr Catholic Church in South Austin. He says his parish really felt Francis' impact. "We've seen a real uptick in those who are interested in our faith and in joining the church. And I would say that he inspired that in a lot of people because Austin has a certain sense of being with the underdog to assist those who are need," said Dougherty. FOX 7 Austin's John Krinjak asked what he thinks Francis' legacy will be, Dougherty said, "I think a life of simplicity, a life of prayer, and a life of service." Charles Collins worked in the Diocese of Austin before later working at the Vatican. He is now a journalist and managing editor at "You never knew what to expect. He would say things that no pope would ever say before. He'd just speak bluntly about things and say things were challenging or were controversial," said Collins. What's next With the pope's passing, many wonder what it will mean for the leadership of the Diocese of Austin, after Joe Vasquez was elevated to archbishop of Galveston-Houston in January. "This may delay a little bit that appointment of a new bishop for the Diocese of Austin, but I'm just encouraging everyone to pray for our next Holy Father, whoever he is," said Misko, "So that he will be ready to name our new Bishop as soon as possible." As for whether the new Catholic leader will be more progressive like Francis? "I think anyone trying to predict a pope right now is completely guessing," said Collins. "I would love to see somebody similar to Francis, especially again, with his love of people, his love of pastoring, and his love for poor," said Dougherty. After the nine-day period of mourning ends, Collins says once the cardinals begin voting, he expects a new pope to be selected quickly, possibly within a few days. The Source Information from interviews conducted by FOX 7 Austin's John Krinjak
