“Not in Our Lifetime”: Pasadena Catholic Clergy Stunned by Historic Selection of First American Pope

Just one day after telling a parishioner an American pope wouldn’t happen “in our lifetime,” Fr. Tony Gomez of Pasadena’s St. Philip the Apostle Church found himself stunned by the historic election of Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost as Pope Leo XIV, the first American to lead the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics in the Church’s 2,000-year history

The historic election of Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost as Pope Leo XIV, the first American pope in the Catholic Church’s 2,000-year history, has sent shockwaves through Pasadena’s Catholic community, with local clergy expressing astonishment at a development they never expected to witness.

Three Catholic priests from Pasadena parishes have shared their initial reactions and hopes following the election of Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost as Pope Leo XIV on May 8, 2025. Their responses capture the historic significance of the first American pope and the unexpected speed of the conclave’s decision after just two days of deliberation.

This papal election represents a watershed moment for American Catholics and the global Church. The reactions of Pasadena clergy provide a window into how this historic shift is being received at the parish level, highlighting both surprise and optimism among Catholic leadership who had long considered an American pope unlikely due to geopolitical concerns.

“Just yesterday somebody asked me, will we ever have an American pope? And I said, yeah, not in our lifetime. Okay, what do I know? But yeah, I’m excited because I really didn’t think it would happen,” said Fr. Tony Gomez, Pastor, St. Philip the Apostle Church.

“My first reaction is that the Holy Spirit is still working in our church and is present, that they were able to come up with a decision so fast in two days. I thought that it was amazing that they reached that consensus so fast,” noted Fr. Michael Ume, Pastor, Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Fr. Marcos Gonzalez, Pastor of St. Andrew Church, expressed his surprise: “I was very surprised. I did not expect an American, I never thought they’d get American. But then when I heard him, he spoke perfect Italian, perfect English, perfect Spanish, perfect Latin. He has brains.”

All three priests expressed surprise at how quickly the conclave reached a decision, with all interpreting the rapid consensus as a sign of divine guidance in the selection process. Two of the three parishes were unable to ring bells to celebrate due to technical issues, while St. Andrew Church rang bells twice: once when white smoke appeared and again when the new pope made his appearance.

All three priests indicated they would incorporate prayers for the new pope in upcoming masses, with some navigating the challenge of balancing this with Mother’s Day celebrations.

“I hope his priority will be unifying the church, the two extremes from the ultra right and the progressive left… It gets so polarized and I hope he can undo that,” Fr. Gomez said about his hopes for Pope Leo XIV’s leadership.

Beyond unifying the Church, Fr. Gomez expressed hope that Pope Leo XIV would continue Vatican reforms initiated by Pope Francis and bring closure to abuse scandals through full disclosure. Fr. Gomez stated, “And as long as things stay hidden, bring it to light and it’s over,” noting that while the Los Angeles archdiocese had “done a pretty good job,” he was uncertain if that was true worldwide.

Fr. Gonzalez highlighted the new pope’s focus on evangelization: “Well, he talked about evangelization, he talked about bringing the love of Christ to all and that’s exactly what the church is supposed to be doing to bring the love of Christ to all people.”

Fr. Ume expressed hope that the new pope would balance tradition with addressing contemporary issues: “I prayed for a pope who will understand the parable that Jesus used in the Bible. And Jesus said a wise person is one who is able to get from his store and bring in the new in and be able to combine the two. What I’m looking for in Pope Leo XIV is to be able to synchronize the new things that are happening in the world today as well as the old things that has been in existence.”

Robert Francis Prevost was born on September 14, 1955, in Chicago to parents of French, Italian, and Spanish descent. He has dual American and Peruvian citizenship, speaks fluent English, Spanish, Italian, and Portuguese, and holds academic degrees including a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics, a Master of Divinity, and a Doctorate in Canon Law.

His prior roles included Bishop of Chiclayo, Peru (2014-2023), where he earned the nickname “Saint of the North” for his dedicated service to the poor, and Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops (2023-2025), one of the most powerful positions in the Vatican.

Despite being American, many observers view Pope Leo XIV as a counterbalance to conservative American Catholicism, with his missionary background and commitment to social justice suggesting a pontificate that may bridge divides while maintaining a strong moral voice on issues like immigration, climate change, and economic justice.

The historic selection of America’s first pope represents a potential bridge between traditional Catholic values and modern challenges, with Pasadena’s clergy hopeful that Pope Leo XIV can unify a polarized church while continuing necessary reforms.