‘It’s a very big deal’: Benedictine monk on election of first American pope

The Catholic Church has chosen its first American leader: Robert Francis Prevost who takes the name Pope Leo XIV. He was chosen to succeed Pope Francis, who died last month.

Father Nickolas Becker, an assistant professor of theology at College of St. Benedict and St. John’s University as well as the graduate School of Theology and Seminary, called the election “a big deal.”

“Historically, there had just been a distrust of electing an American,” he said. “So, symbolically it’s important.”

Becker also noted that Pope Leo XIV in his first remarks seemed to signal he would continue moving the church in the direction Pope Francis had taken it.

“He made a point of saying … he’s his own man but he shares a mind with Pope Francis and intends to govern in that way.”

For the full interview, click play on the audio player above.

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