DELMARVA - Priests across Delmarva were overcome with joy Thursday afternoon as white smoke bellowed from the Sistine Chapel chimney, symbolizing the election of Pope Leo XIV.
Father Brian Lewis, Pastor of St. Jude's The Apostle Church in Lewes, stood outside of the church, his eyes fixed on his phone as he watched the moment Catholics worldwide had waited, the introduction of a new pope.
Father Lewis had a smile on his faith as he watched, a smile that never left his face. As Pope Leo XIV shared prayers towards the end of his first public appearance, Father Lewis recited the same prayer. He even explained to CoastTV what the Pope was saying as he addressed the crowd in Vatican City in Latin.
"He just referred to Pope Francis and how to honor him and then to continue on with the good that he's done and to preach, as he will do, of course, as every pope is called to do, to preach in the Holy name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, Amen," Father Lewis explained to CoastTV.
For Father Lewis and many priests like him, the days following the death of Pope Francis had been marked by a spiritual void. Catholic tradition calls for priests to name the pope in their prayers—something they had not been able to do following the passing of Pope Francis.
“There’s an awkwardness, a loss, an absence, and a desire for a need for a new pastor, a new shepherd of our church,” Lewis said.
Until now, the Cardinal who was elected pope, Robert Francis Prevost, has chosen the papal name Leo XIV
Father Lewis has high hopes for the new pope as he takes the name after Pope Leo XIII, someone Father Lewis says engaged the modern world.
"Given the name that he has selected, he will definitely want to engage with the world and bring the world to a deeper connection with the Lord our God, and his motto is 'as Christ is one, we will be one' so he is focusing on unity," Father Lewis shared.
“The challenges of balancing mourning and joy—the loss of one pope and the joyful welcoming of a new one—it shows to us that God in his goodness knows human emotions from sorrow to joy,” he said.
Pope Leo the 14th’s background offers further hope for a more connected Catholic Church. A seasoned missionary and multilingual speaker, he brings a global perspective to the papacy.
“Pope Leo XIV spent many, many years ministering in Peru, so he speaks Spanish, Latin, Italian, English as well,” Father Lewis said.
“To have a pope who is multicultural and multilingual, who will be able to unite the world by overcoming one of the biggest barriers—which is language—that’s very powerful,” he continued.
Father William Cocco of St. Edmond’s Church in Rehoboth Beach shared the sentiment, describing the pope as a shepherd for all people.
“The pope is our shepherd here on Earth, and a shepherd has to be in connection with the sheep—not just certain ones in certain places but all sheep and those who need him most,” Father Cocco said.
Lewis emphasized that Pope Leo’s significance goes beyond his origin.
“Really, at this stage, the pope isn’t African, American or European,” Lewis said. “The pope is the shepherd. He is the vicar of Christ and the servant of the servants of God.”
Father Cocco also shared the same surprise as many around the world that the new pope is someone from the United States.
"A combination of being totally surprised that it is an American and also extremely excited. I was taught by Augustinians so Iknow something about the Cardinal and I think he is a man of true integrity and what Ithink the world needs is true leadership," said Father Cocco.
As Delaware’s Catholic leaders and parishioners look toward the future, there is a growing sense of hope and unity, and continued excitement and passion to shared the Lord's word and honor Jesus Christ.
The prayers for the new pope have begun, and so has a new chapter in the Catholic Church.