From Assisi to Pennsylvania: the Diocese of Erie welcomes Pope Leo XIV
By Allison Mosier05/13/2025
The world waited in breathless anticipation on May 8, 2025, as white smoke curled into the Roman sky. More than an hour passed before the church heard the long-awaited words: “Annuntio vobis gaudium: habemus papam…”—We have a pope. Cardinal Robert Prevost had been chosen as the 267th successor to St. Peter, taking the name Pope Leo XIV.
This historic election—marking the first US-born pontiff—comes during the Jubilee Year of Hope, a Holy Year declared by Pope Francis as a time for spiritual renewal, pilgrimage and mercy. That spirit of hope has now deepened, finding new expression in the leadership of Pope Leo, whose first message as Holy Father was a heartfelt appeal to unity and peace: “Peace be with you… God loves us, God loves all of us, and evil will not prevail.”
In the Diocese of Erie, this moment has been embraced with profound joy. Bishop Lawrence Persico offered a moving reflection on the election:
“There is great anticipation that our new bishop, a faithful shepherd whose spirit of peace and commitment to building bridges, will guide us toward greater unity, healing and hope,” he wrote in a letter to the faithful.
The bishop highlighted Pope Leo’s rich pastoral background and his global perspective, shaped by years of missionary work in Peru and his role as prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops. His experience, Bishop Persico noted, gives him a unique capacity to unify and inspire the universal church in this critical moment of renewal.
That spirit is already alive among Erie’s Catholic community. Pilgrims from Our Lady of Peace Parish—currently in Italy—experienced an unforgettable moment when they witnessed the announcement of our new pope while in Assisi, the sacred home of St. Francis. The timing could not be more symbolic: to be in a place of profound peace and spiritual simplicity while the Church welcomed a new shepherd focused on healing and hope.
“It was a powerful and emotional experience,” shared Father Rich Toohey. “To be on holy ground as history unfolded—it felt like God placed us there for a reason.”
Back home in Erie, employees of St. Mark Catholic Center gathered in the cafeteria as soon as the white smoke was seen rising from the Vatican. Together, they waited and prayed for the announcement of the new pope. When Pope Leo XIV’s name was revealed, the room erupted in joy and gratitude. It was a shared moment of unity and pride for the diocesan staff, deeply aware of the significance of witnessing history unfold.
A similar sense of providence was echoed by the Very Rev. Justin P. Pino, VF, pastor of Saint Leo Magnus Church in Ridgway—named for the very patron the new pope has chosen. “From now on when the pope’s name is prayed during Mass, we here at Saint Leo will share in the excitement of uniting ourselves to our new Chief Shepherd halfway across the world,” he said. “But being a native of the great city of Chicago, a graduate of Pennsylvania’s Villanova University—and the first pope who certainly knows how a deep dish pizza tastes—Pope Leo XIV already feels so close to us, like one of our family.”
Fr. Pino also noted the historic significance of this moment: “It has been an astounding 121 years since the church last prayed for ‘Leo our Pope.’ That changed, surprisingly and very happily, on May 8, 2025.”
This excitement is a foretaste of what’s to come. The Diocese of Erie is planning an official pilgrimage to Rome this October, inviting the faithful to step through the Holy Doors, receive grace and walk together as “Pilgrims of Hope.”
With the Jubilee of Hope well underway and Pope Leo XIV’s pontificate just beginning, the Catholic Church stands on the threshold of a new era. For Erie and the global Catholic community, this is more than a moment in history—it’s a mission for the future.
As Bishop Persico wrote, “May we, as a diocesan family, support our new pope through our faith and sense of community.”
Hope is not just the theme of this year—it’s the call of our time.
To view photos of the excitement, visit our photo album here. To learn more about our Holy Father, visit our Pope Leo XIV landing page.
-