10-05-2025
Valley Catholic students react to pope selection
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) – It was fifth period Thursday when Ursuline High School juniors learned the world's 1.5 billion Catholics have a new Pope. And unlike previous generations, they could watch it all in real time.
'When we saw the white smoke and it came across the announcements, I just thought I want to get out my Chromebook and be able to watch this live,' said Evan Brockway, an Ursuline High School junior.
These students are in the school's 'Social Awareness' class. They had been following the events in Rome for weeks, even making study aids for the College of Cardinals. The ultimate choice, though, caught them by surprise.
'It's pretty interesting to see the first American pope, and it's someone that wasn't looked at as a papal candidate,' Lantz said.
Even their teacher, Campus Minister Nicky Uerling, never expected Chicago native Robert Prevost to be elected.
'I had jokingly told my students, as we were researching cardinals, you don't have to pay attention, we won't have an American pope, so I just told the kids I have to eat my words,' Uerling said.
As part of this lesson, Uerling passed out short biographies of the new pontiff, but some had already started doing their own research.
'It was cool to hear he always wanted to be a priest. He was always holy, and he was always as a kid. He wanted to be pope,' said Mia Ricchiutti, an Ursuline High School junior.
But their teacher says having an American Pope, who grew up and studied in this country, makes him instantly relatable.
'The kids were just asking me, do you think he watched the NCAA Championship when Villanova was playing, and so there's this automatic sense of community I think for our students, and for all of us,' Uerling said.
A sense of community that could help unite the Church.
'There's always been those barriers between languages, especially with problems in Europe, so I feel like it's ushering in a new age. He could really be beneficial for the Church to come unite as one,' said Luke Lantz, an Ursuline High School junior.
'I think he is going to be a good leader, and I'm excited to see what he does,' Ricchiuti said.
Chicago native, 69-year-old Pope Leo XIV, formerly Cardinal Robert Prevost, was selected to lead the Catholic Church.
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