This Friday, May 8, 2026, will mark one year of Pope Leo XIV as the leader of the Catholic Church.
That day when that the world met the first American pope will likely remain a prominent memory for many Catholics, Americans, and Viatorians. So, we asked a few Viatorians to share the stories of where they were, what they were doing, and who they were with, as the Church and the world received this news and first met Cardinal Robert Prevost, OSA, as Pope Leo XIV.
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Pre-Associate Patrick McGarry was navigating the torpor of teaching high school students in May. Then, this exciting news and the chance to watch live with students broke up the sluggish days – at least for him and the teachers. “Ms. Bruett-Fedell and I looked at each other and jumped and down. And I ran through the hallways, ecstatically screaming, ‘He’s an American! We have an American pope!” Patrick said. “No one seemed quite as excited as we were, haha.”
As a longtime veteran of the broadcast news business, Associate Dan Schwarz has been in newsrooms for a lot of big stories over the years, but there was something one-of-a-kind about May 8, 2025.
Associate Dan Schwarz juggled the hustle of a workday in a broadcast newsroom, following the news while praying and celebrating. “I was behind the door in my office, and I cried. What a blessing for our Catholic Church! What a thrill for me being from Chicago!” Dan said. “Then, I opened my door and got back to work – and talked about it the rest of the day with anybody who wanted to talk!”
And Fr. Charlie Bolser, CSV, was delighted for a pope with a heart for the poor – and the White Sox. “Number one, he was a Southside boy. I thought that was fantastic. And Augustinian – we’re familiar with them, and they’re very good people. And working in South America as a missionary, I was very impressed with that experience and background,” Fr. Charlie said. “Then I heard finally that he was a Chicago White Sox fan! I thought, ‘Holy cow, now I have to watch. This guy’s really got my attention.”
Hear from these Viatorians, Associate Dan Masterton, Fr. John Eustice, CSV, and of course, the Viatorian who remembers this pope as “Bob” – Fr. Mark Francis, CSV, Provincial. It’s all in Episode 110 of Viatorian Voices, available on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.
As we celebrate the first year of Leo’s papacy, we encourage you to remember and reflect on where you were when this exciting news broke and how you and others with you reacted and responded. We also invite you to join us in praying with gratitude for Pope Leo XIV, his prophetic witness, faithful leadership, and continued health and vitality.