MERRILLVILLE– As His Holiness Pope Leo XIV stepped out onto the balcony at St. Peter’s Square in Rome for the first time, Most Reverend Robert J. McClory and the staff at the Diocese of Gary Pastoral Center gathered in the building’s main conference room. With great excitement, the diocesan family joined faithful around the world to watch the first American-born pope address the crowds gathered and impart a blessing as the 266th successor to St. Peter, the earthly leader of the Catholic Church.
“This is an exciting time,” Bishop McClory said following the Urbi et Orbi (for the city [of Rome] and for the world) blessing. “We’re part of Chicagoland. So, we get to celebrate with great joy that he exercised leadership here.” Pope Leo XIV, formerly Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, is a native of Chicago and a member of the Order of St. Augustine.
Father Steven Caraher, parochial vicar at Our Lady of Consolation and Holy Martyrs parishes in Merrillville, was at lunch with a fellow priest when they saw the white smoke emanate from the Sistine Chapel. “It was the fastest lunch I’ve ever eaten,” he said. “We packed up and came to the Pastoral Center to be surrounded by people who are working to bring renewal to the Diocese of Gary.”
“I’m just so proud,” Father Caraher, who was ordained a priest last June, continued. “The Holy Spirit works in all times and places, and yes, the Holy Spirit works here in the United States. And yes, the Holy Spirit can pick a man from Dolton, Ill., just a 35-minute drive from where we are right now.”
Jodi McLawhorn, assistant superintendent of Catholic schools for the Diocese of Gary, worked at St. Rita High School on Chicago’s Southwest Side for many years, where she got to know then-Father Prevost. The Augustinian priest would visit the community often to talk about working as a missionary in Peru, where he served from 1985 to 1999, when he was elected as the head of his order’s Chicago-based province.
McLawhorn also traveled to Rome when the now-pontiff was prior general of all Augustinians worldwide. “I can’t believe that I know the pope,” she said. “He is just a kind, loving, gentle, warm, approachable person. I’m so happy for him and excited to see the great work that he’s going to do for our world.”
Bishop McClory encourages the faithful to participate in the practice of praying an Our Father, a Hail Mary and a Glory Be for the new Holy Father, saying, “We have a special obligation as his native land to pray for him because we can appreciate the challenges and the nuances of the responsibilities that he will take on now as a global leader whose sphere of influence crosses so many different cultures.”
Traditionally upon hearing of the election of the new pope, priests are encouraged to offer Mass for the intentions of the new Holy Father. Bishop McClory will celebrate a Mass at the Cathedral of the Holy Angels in conjunction with Pope Leo XIV’s inauguration Mass in Rome. More information will be forthcoming.
The 69-year-old pontiff was elected on the second day of the conclave, presumably during the fourth vote of the election. Most recently, Pope Leo XIV served as the prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops at the Vatican, a position where he assisted Pope Francis in assigning bishops to dioceses around the world.
“What a tremendous blessing for us,” the Bishop of Gary concluded. “We’re just so grateful and excited to see what this new pontificate will bring.”
