Hours after U.S. Cardinal Robert Prevost was elected during the conclave in Rome and named Pope Leo XIV, Los Angeles Archbishop Jose H. Gomez called it “a great day for the whole world” during a press conference on May 8.
“As everyone probably knows, the word ‘Catholic’ means universal,” Gomez said at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels. “The mission of the Catholic Church is to shine the light of Christ and to proclaim the love of God to every human heart, in every nation and every land, to the ends of the earth.
“Now, we have a new Pope to continue leading us in that mission, following the beautiful example of the previous popes, especially Pope Francis.”
Pope Leo XIV, the first North American to ever be elected pope, was elected on only the fourth ballot. Born in Chicago, he spent years in Peru — including as the Bishop of Chiclayo — before being tapped by Pope Francis to become the prefect for the Dicastery for Bishops in 2023.
White smoke poured out of the Sistine Chapel’s chimney at 6:07 p.m. in Rome as the crowd in St. Peter’s Square began cheering loudly and bells rang at the basilica.
At the press conference, Archbishop Gomez said he was encouraged by Pope Leo’s first speech out on the balcony at St. Peter’s Basilica.
“He talked about the need to be a missionary Church and the need for everyone in the Church to be missionaries, proclaiming the love of Jesus Christ,” Archbishop Gomez said. “Pope Leo XIV also said today that the people of the world need the light of Christ in order to reach God and to know his love. And that is the truth.”
During the press conference, Archbishop Gomez was asked how the new pope might approach immigration, especially in the U.S. Gomez said he was heartened by Pope Leo’s experience as an American serving in a Latin American country.
“The Catholic Church has some beautiful, concrete teachings about the need to be open to all people including immigrants,” Archbishop Gomez said. “I think the new pope, knowing the reality in the United States and in Latin America, has the possibility to help us all in this country to understand that immigrants are a blessing for our country and in all parts of the world.”
Just as Pope Francis was the first Jesuit pope, Leo is the first pontiff to come from the Augustinian order, and Archbishop Gomez presented two Augustinian priests in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles to speak about the new pontiff.
Father Sarfraz Alam, OSA, administrator at Our Mother of Good Counsel Church in Los Angeles, said he met now-Pope Leo XIV in 2014 in Chicago while Alam was still in formation. He described the new pope as a “man of heart.”
“It was a wonderful experience. He’s very kind, very humble, and a very down-to-earth personality,” Alam said. “It was such a joy and surprising this morning on the television. We were waiting for it. Such a great rejoicing for us. The Holy Spirit has really led the Church toward a man of heart, who is humble and kind and ready to listen.”
Father Carlos Flores, also from the Augustinian order, said during the press conference that — while he does not know Pope Leo personally — he did remember seeing him in a group setting interacting with clergy and young people at a World Youth Day celebration in Brazil.
“He was always very accessible, very open,” he said, “especially with the young people.”
Flores said Prevost seemed happy to transmit to them the “happiness” of the Gospel and to speak to them “without any obstacles.”
“He is a humble man,” he added.
At the end of his opening remarks, Archbishop Gomez asked the Virgin Mary to bless Pope Leo XIV and his pontificate.
“We especially ask Our Lady of the Angels today to accompany him always, in his ministry and his teachings,” he said.
Theresa Cisneros contributed to this story.
