‘We Didn’t Expect This’: Vatican Visitors Share Their Hopes for First American Pope

(DCNF)—In Saint Peter’s Square, visitors from around the globe expressed optimism the new American pope will prove to be a positive change, though they are holding out to see what he will do.

The initial impression of many tourists, who are anxious about the state of the world between policy shifts brought by Donald Trump’s presidency, the Russia and Ukraine war and Europe’s immigration crisis, is that Pope Leo XIV comes across as “down to earth” and normal. Several visitors expressed hope he would speak into areas of political turmoil.

“I think it’s good because, obviously, America maybe doesn’t have the best publicity at the moment,” one man from the U.K., who currently lives in France, told the Daily Caller News Foundation. “So having a billion people who are Catholic who now have an American as the person who is the head of the church, is a good positive light.”

Nick, also from the U.K., said Pope Leo’s election is a “refreshing change.”

“Obviously, with America right now there is a lot going on,” he said. “So I think it’s good from a religious perspective.”

The papal conclave elected 69-year-old Chicago-native Cardinal Robert Prevost, a dual citizen of Peru and the US, to succeed Pope Francis as the new leader of the Catholic church on May 8. He is the first pontiff from the Augustinian order.

Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Pope Leo on May 19, the day after his inaugural Mass. Vance presented the pope with a Chicago Bears jersey — a nod to his hometown — and a letter from Trump inviting him to the White House.

The meeting included an “exchange of views on some current international issues, during which hope was expressed that humanitarian law and international law be respected in areas of conflict and that there be a negotiated solution between the parties involved,” according to the Vatican.

Trump reacted to the initial news of Pope Leo’s election on Truth Social by calling it “a Great Honor for our Country.”

Americans who spoke with the DCNF were also pleased, though some were surprised.

“I thought right away that people would think there is some kind of conspiracy going on between like, the government,” Casey, who lives in New Jersey, told the DCNF. “So I thought maybe people would like, be a little bit sus[pect] of that. But he seems like he is similar in ways to the previous pope, who I liked a lot.”

Dan and Rhonda from Oklahoma highlighted the new pope’s experience in South America and education, saying they think his election is “great.”

During his inaugural Mass, Pope Leo emphasized his desire for a “united Church” that becomes “a leaven for a reconciled world.”

“In this our time, we still see too much discord, too many wounds caused by hatred, violence, prejudice, the fear of difference, and an economic paradigm that exploits the Earth’s resources and marginalizes the poorest,” he said. “For our part, we want to be a small leaven of unity, communion, and fraternity within the world. We want to say to the world, with humility and joy: Look to Christ! Come closer to him!”

Some visitors who spoke with the DCNF picked up on these themes, including a Catholic couple from Austria who expressed hope Pope Leo would “bring people together” and continue in the path of Pope Francis.

“The Italian guys are very happy about it,” Denis, visiting from Germany, told the DCNF.

Angelica, who is from Namibia, noted that the new pope is “young.”

“It’s different. It’s amazing. A little bit sudden,” Pascal, a man from the Netherlands, told the DCNF. “We will see what happens.”

His friend Kevin, who told the DCNF he is not religious but appreciates the history, thought it matters more what the pope stands for, not where he’s from.

“I don’t really know if there’s a big difference if he is American, or Italian, or Polish,” he said. “But what I’ve heard from the American pope is that he’s a really down to earth guy.”

One tour guide, who spoke with the DCNF at the urging of a group of Canadian tourists he was leading, said it’s “still early.” Born in Rome and baptised in St. Peter’s Basilica, he told the DCNF he’s lived in the city his whole life, except for the two years he spent in the U.S. starting at 19.

“We didn’t expect this pope,” he said. “He looks to be okay.”

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