By Pamela Seal
Diocese of Lake Charles
LAKE CHARLES –– Surprised. Overjoyed. Excited. Thrilled. These are just a few words that come to mind for Catholics in the Diocese of Lake Charles when they learned that United States native Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost was chosen as the 267th pope to lead the universal Church.
of Thanksgiving for newly elected Pope Leo XIV in the
Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception on Friday, May 9, 2025.
(Morris LeBleu / Diocese of Lake Charles)
Taking the name Leo XIV, Cardinal Prevost was elected on May 8, 2025, following the death of Pope Francis on April 21. White smoke rose from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel at 6:09 p.m. Rome time to cheers of faithful pilgrims in St. Peter’s Square as well as those watching around the world.
The day after this historic event, His Excellency Bishop Glen John Provost offered a Mass of Thanksgiving at noon on Friday, May 9, in the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception.
Concelebrating with him were Very Rev. Ruben J. Buller, V.G., Pastor of the Cathedral; and Very Rev. Keith Pellerin, V.F., Pastor of Our Lady Help of Christians Catholic Church in Jennings. Very Rev. Joseph Caraway, Chancellor, served as Master of Ceremonies.
Bishop Provost set the record straight for anyone thinking he is leaving for the Eternal City anytime soon.
and principals attend the Mass of Thanksgiving
in honor of the new Bishop of Rome, Pope Leo XIV.
(Morris LeBleu / Diocese of Lake Charles)
“One of Father Pellerin’s parishioners called him upon hearing the news of Cardinal Prevost being elected to the papacy expressing surprise that the Bishop of Lake Charles was going to be the pope,” Bishop Provost quipped. “There is a similarity with the spelling of our last names, but Prevost is a more antique spelling,” drawing laughter from the congregation.
During his homily, Bishop Provost expressed gratitude to Almighty God for the election of Cardinal Prevost to the office of Bishop of Rome, Vicar of Christ, and Successor of St. Peter.
“He is an extraordinary choice for the Church at this moment in Her history,” he said, remarking that the 69-year-old pope is the fourteenth pontiff choosing the name Leo.
“In doing so, the new Holy Father reached back into history to the reign of the last pope with that name. Leo XIII had one of the longest reigns (February 1878 to July 1903) of any pope since St. Peter,” the bishop remarked. “Every pope reflects a different aspect of the Office of St. Peter, and the selection of a name gives some indication of what is important to the pontiff who selects it.”
Sharing a bit of background on Pope Leo XIV, Bishop Provost made note that he is a native of Chicago, of French, Spanish, and Italian ancestry, and has connections to Louisiana as his maternal grandparents were from New Orleans. He is an Augustinian friar and spent most of his priesthood in the missions of Peru.
concelebrants Very Rev. Keith Pellerin, VF, (left) and Very Rev.
Ruben J. Buller, VG (right), while Very Rev. Joseph Caraway
serves as Master of Ceremonies during a Mass of Thanksgiving
for Pope Leo XIV in the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception.
(Morris LeBleu / Diocese of Lake Charles)
The Holy Father’s lineage was not lost on Debra Richard, a parishioner of St. Henry Catholic Church, in attendance at the Mass of Thanksgiving.
“I am excited that Pope Leo is from the United States and has roots in Louisiana. It is beautiful to witness,” she said. “I have heard how humble he is and how close he was to Pope Francis, who was my favorite. I never thought there would be a pope from North America in my lifetime.”
Bishop Provost noted that Pope Leo XIV, during his first address from the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, asked the pilgrims present in the square to join him in praying the Hail Mary.
“This was a significant entrusting of his Pontificate and the Church to the intercession of our Mother Mary,” said the bishop.
Dr. David and Catherine Landry, parishioners of the Cathedral, attended the Mass with their five children, ages 14 to 5.
immediately following the Cathedral’s Mass of Thanksgiving for
Pope Leo XIV who was elected to the papacy on May 8, 2025.
Catherine said their prayers were answered when they learned
that the new Holy Father entrusted the Church to Our Lady after
he was introduced to the world.
“We have been praying the rosary daily as a family hoping we could have a Marian pope,” Catherine expressed. “We were overjoyed and truly inspired by the Holy Father entrusting the Church to Our Lady. We felt the choice of this pope was a personal answer to our prayers.”
Julius Garrett Caraway III, a member of St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Lacassine, and father to Very Rev. Joseph Caraway, said he did not have any inside information on who would be the next pope.
“Since my son is a priest, some of my friends were asking me who was going to be elected to the papacy. I told them I didn’t know but I bet my last dollar it was not going to be an American pope,” he laughed. “I am excited that he can speak to us in our native language. It sounds like we have a good guy, so let’s pray for him.”
Kimberlee Gazzolo, Superintendent of Schools for the Diocese of Lake Charles, who shared the Mass with some of her staff and principals, commented on hearing the news of the new pontiff.
Immaculate Conception, proclaims the Gospel during a Mass
of Thanksgiving for the newly elected Supreme Pontiff. U.S.-native
Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost was elevated by cardinal electors
to the Chair of St. Peter and has chosen the name Leo XVI to serve
as the 267th Bishop of Rome. (Morris LeBleu / Diocese of Lake Charles)
“It was an exciting day, as our staff and our students watched in anticipation for the newly elected pope to enter the balcony at St. Peter’s Basilica,” Gazzolo stated. “Imagine our surprise as we learned it was Cardinal Robert Prevost, born in Chicago! We are excited for the papacy of Pope Leo XIV. Our Catholic schools will pray for the Holy Father as he takes on his new role.”
Cathedral parishioners Preston and Joanie St. Romain were excited about the choice of Pope Leo XIV.
“I did not know anything about him, but I am very happy with the selection of Pope Leo,” said Preston. “I am excited to learn that he is an intellectual and tends to be more on the conservative side.”
Also from the Cathedral, Vincent Lupo watched the news unfold live on EWTN and was thrilled with the cardinals’ choice.
“I thought the selection was brilliant because Pope Leo knows a lot about the world from Peru all the way to Italy. I was happy to hear that he was a missionary in Peru for many years, so he is familiar with South America, which has a lot of problems,” Lupo said.
Jackie Baff, a parishioner of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Sulphur, watched history in the making with a group of Altar Society members.
“We were surprised that someone born in the United States was elected to the papacy. At the same time, it is exciting that he has ties to Louisiana,” Baff said. “We are living in trying times, so this is a grave responsibility that has been placed on his shoulders.”
In his closing remarks, Bishop Provost said, “We pray for the success of Pope Leo’s reign. May he promote peace, remaining always faithful to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, as well as the teachings of Sacred Scripture and the Church. May he prove a worthy successor for the See of St. Peter. Viva il Papa! Praised be Jesus Christ.”
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