Local Catholic community looking forward to new Pope Leo XIV’s term

By Lethbridge Herald on May 10, 2025.

Alejandra Pulido-Guzman
Lethbridge Herald

Catholics all over the world, and right here in Southern Alberta, are celebrating the selection of Pope Leo XIV as the successor to Pope Francis, who passed away last month. 

Born in Chicago as Robert Francis Prevost. Pope Leo is the first Augustinian pope to be selected, as well as the first from North America. 

Pope Leo XIV spent many years as a missionary in Peru. Bishop William McGrattan, from the Calgary Dioceses and President of the Canadian Conference of Bishops, says he believes Pope Leo XIV was selected because of his experience and his missionary heart. 

“The fact that he has been a missionary priest in South America, even though he comes from the Unites States, I think that was considered with respect to the selection of him as the next Holy Father,” says McGrattan. 

He adds that his Augustinian background also helped on his selection, as Augustinians are known for their devotion and adherence to St. Augustin, who was a great evangelist in his time and believed that the gospel could reach people if proclaimed in creative and thoughtful ways. 

“I think his experience as a missionary, his desire to go and serve people in Peru, also speaks of his vocation and I think that will be reflected in his papacy, like his predecessor Pope Francis,” says McGrattan. 

He adds that a missionary usually has a desire to be close to people to accompany them in their situations. And therefore, McGrattan believes that Pope Leo XIV will follow the Pope Francis’ footsteps on being a Pope of the People. 

“Personally, I find that he is a man of great humility, he listens. I’ve had opportunities to discuss things with him, and I’ve always been very encouraged by the approach that he takes to solving or addressing very difficult pastoral situations,” says McGrattan. 

He adds that Pope Leo XIV has a pastor’s heart, he tries to understand the situation and to respond in a way that applies the church’s teachings in a pastoral and compassionate way. 

Father Kevin Tumback, pastor of All Saints Roman Catholic Parish here in Lethbridge says that it is always inspirational when you see the Holy Spirit at work when it comes to selecting a new Pope. 

“This cardinal was not in the short list, and it was a surprise to a lot of people, I think,” says Tumback. “But I believe they have chosen wisely, and they listened to the guidance of the Holy Spirit and now we have someone who will lead us into the next years.”

He adds that he believes the fact that everyone was talking about different cardinals and nobody was talking about Prevost shows the Holy Spirit at work.

As for Leo being from North America, Tumback says that it might be beneficial in that his mindset might be more aligned with Catholics here in southern Alberta. 

“But he is also responsible for the universal church and in his address to the world, he spoke in Latin, Spanish and Italian, recognizing that the church is very diverse,” says Tumback. 

Here in Lethbridge, to recognize the appointment of the new pope, Tumback says the church will be exchanging the images of Pope Francis with images of Pope Leo XIV in the various churches. 

“During the mass we are now praying for Pope Leo XIV, whereas in the past we prayed for Pope Francis, so there is that shift,” says Tumback. 

Ccross the Diocese of Calgary, which includes Lethbridge, McGrattan says the various parishes have been instructed to offer a celebratory mass to welcome the new pope 

“I will be celebrating a mass of celebration, a week from Wednesday after returning from Rome, where I will be participating in the inaugural mass of Pope Leo XIV next Sunday,” says McGrattan. 

While in Rome, McGrattan says he will extend an invitation to the pope to come back to Western Canada as he has previously visited while on vacation. 

“In brief conversation he mentioned to me that on one occasion he had the opportunity to visit the Rocky Mountains,” says McGrattan.