Latest news with #WalterRossi
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Catholics in DC rejoice as new pope from Chicago chosen
WASHINGTON (DC News Now) — In the nation's capital, the bells chimed at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, next to Catholic University. There was a Mass set to start with the monsignor announcing the new pope, sending those gathered into cheers. PHOTOS: New pope elected on Day 2 of voting That excitement among Catholics is felt all around our region. Few could ever imagine a cardinal from the U.S. would be picked. Even Monsignor Walter Rossi was surprised. 'I said, 'Oh my God, an American Pope!' And the person I was with said, 'You said it would never happen.' I said, well, I guess I was wrong,' said Monsignor Walter Rossi. Rossi said Pope Leo XIV has been to D.C. before. 'When he was appointed cardinal two years ago by Pope Francis, he actually stopped here at the Shrine on his way to Rome to celebrate mass,' Rossi said. 'That was my first time meeting him. And at that moment he was gracious, kind and a little bit shy.' There was excitement among a group from Columbus, Ohio, on an eighth-grade field trip to the basilica. 'A guy from Chicago, the big city of Chicago, is now the pope of the world, and so it's a neat experience and I want to enjoy that today,' said visitor Jeff Uhlenhake. 'I hope that he can kind of just relate to all those in America, just because he's from here,' said Noah Phillips. 'It was really thought-provoking because he might have grown up in the same conditions that we grew up in, so he can really connect more on the people and bring more people to our faith,' said Kamani Phillips. Rossi said Pope Leo XIV is American by birth but international by life, and will carry forward the legacy of Pope Leo XIII 'A pope for the people, a pope for the marginalized, a pope for those who are in need, a pope for those who are poor,' Rossi said. Rossi hopes the pope will make a trip to D.C., but said that might take a couple of years. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Catholics in DC pray for new pope as conclave starts at Vatican
WASHINGTON (DC News Now) — Catholics are eagerly waiting to see what happens at the Vatican as cardinals vote to elect a new pope. At the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Wednesday's mass had Catholics saying extra prayers. 'At this mass, we pray the prayers for the election of a pope,' said Monsignor Walter Rossi. 133 cardinals will elect the next pope. And the faithful have faith in the process. 'I want the Spirit of God to take over the whole thing so that they would bring out somebody who will really do a very nice job for the Catholic Church and humanity,' said Bennett Ohia. REAL ID: What is it, how to get one in DC, Maryland, Virginia Many parishioners are closely watching what happens in Rome, but not everyone. 'I've intentionally not been paying a lot of attention in part because I think we overly politicize some of these things,' said Colin McCarthy. 'Obviously there are political forces you can say, but there's also something kind of mysterious about it.' One of the apparent front-runners for the papacy is Filipino Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle. He went to The Catholic University of America, earning a licentiate in sacred theology in 1987. He completed his doctorate in sacred theology in 1991. 'There's some local connection. Yeah. Yeah, I didn't even… know that. And then, you know, one day, one day there'll be more Americans, more American cardinals. Then we'll see,' McCarthy said. Rossi said it's a process of prayer. 'None of us knows who we will be or how long it will take, but we do know that it is under the guidance of the Holy Spirit,' Rossi said. Cardinals will continue voting up to four times a day, twice in the morning and twice at night, until they elect a new pope. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | DC, Virginia, Maryland News, Weather, Traffic, Sports Live.
