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CBS News
10-05-2025
- General
- CBS News
University of Dallas students witness historic moment as first American pope is introduced
ROME, Italy – The footage of the new pope being introduced to the world yesterday has been seen by many, but some University of Dallas students had the unique experience of witnessing it firsthand. CBS News Texas caught up with those students while they were still in Rome, explaining what it meant to be there when history was made. CBS News Texas "It was really an opportunity that we'll never get again," said University of Dallas sophomore Joseph Teson, who is from Allen. He and his fellow UD sophomore, Bruce Bowen, admitted they never thought studying abroad this semester in Rome would give them a front seat to history. "We were really shocked," said Teson. "I don't think anyone could have seen this coming." The two were supposed to fly back to Texas on April 29, but decided to stay a few extra days for the chance to see the white smoke—a gamble that paid off. "We had just finished saying a rosary when the smoke came out, and everyone started shouting at the top of their lungs, and the energy at St. Peter's Square was unbelievable," Teson explained. As Cardinal Robert Prevost walked out on the balcony as the new Pope Leo XIV, the first American pope in the church's history, Teson and Bowen were among the thousands cheering below in the square. "For us to be sitting there cheering him on and him giving us waves—it was very special. It felt very personal," Bowen told CBS News Texas. Both students admitted it was a moment they will never forget. "Definitely going to be paying more attention to Pope Leo's papacy and seeing what he does," Bowen said. "It is very spectacular just to have experienced this and to really join the church in this moment of great excitement for the future and for everything that this papacy will bring," said Teson.
CBS News
07-05-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
North Texas Catholics eagerly follow conclave, hope for traditional values in new pope
All eyes are on Vatican City as Catholics await the election of a new pope, but some North Texas Catholics are glued to laptops and TVs, looking for that white smoke. Students and faculty at the University of Dallas, a Catholic university, are closely following the events inside the Sistine Chapel. Sarah Grambling was in third grade the last time the cardinals selected a new pope. "We were all sitting in class kind of doing work, and we saw smoke come up live. As third graders, we all went crazy, and our teacher said, 'You have no idea what this means,'" Grambling said. CBS News A conclave isn't a common event, so it's a big deal on the campus of the University of Dallas. "This is a huge celebration of the unity and universality of the Catholic Church. It's the moment that you realize that you're not just part of some little local parish, but you're part of a global church with 1.4 billion members," said Susan Hanssen, a history professor on campus. Hanssen has been following the conclave closely. She expects the cardinals to be judicious with their choice for the next pope. "I think the cardinals are going to be a little bit conservative on that and trust the church to one of the older cardinals in their upper seventies," Hanssen said. Students on campus expressed hope for a return to traditional values from the next pope. "I think that it would be a good step forward to keep it going with a more conservative pope," said JD Self, a junior at the University of Dallas. "I want to see older traditions brought back. I loved Pope Francis and all of the things that he brought to us, but I'd like to see things going back to kind of how they used to be in the more traditional sense," said Elena Romero, also a junior on campus. Hanssen noted that this sentiment is common in the church, not just among students. "I think that people don't really want a throwback to the 1970s progressive theology, guitar masses. They want something that is a celebration of the fullness of the Christian tradition," Hanssen said. The possibility of a return to tradition has North Texas Catholics excited about what comes next. "Excited, nervous, but hopeful. It's comforting to know that all I can do is pray," Self said.
CBS News
07-05-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
Catholics at University of Dallas pray for guidance as papal conclave begins
In the hours leading up to the papal conclave converging on its first day, Catholics at the University of Dallas were seen praying the rosary Tuesday night, hoping their prayers would help guide the selection of the next pope. "It's a big deal and Catholics are hopeful and expectant," said Chris Malloy, graduate theology director for the University of Dallas. Malloy teaches theology at the university, focusing on explaining the historic conclave process to his students. CBS News Texas "There are two elections in the morning, two in the evening, or two in the afternoon. But the first day, there's just one vote," Malloy said. Malloy said throughout history, popes are usually not selected on the first day and explained conclaves have lasted days, weeks, and months, and in just a few instances, even years. "I think it's going to be about two weeks because in today's era, there's a lot more communication. They know each other better, and I do think that they will want the church to have a pope sooner than later," said Malloy. At Mary Immaculate School in Farmers Branch, students held a "mock conclave," complete with young cardinals and a new pope. When it comes to "who" the next leader of the Roman Catholic Church will be, any cardinal is a contender. Malloy prays it's a pope who gives clarity. "The state that we're in right now, I think, is a state of confusion, ambiguity, forgetfulness of doctrine. What I think we need is a pope who will remind us that truth is the foundation of mercy and love," he said.
