Bishop David Ricken of the Diocese of Green Bay watched on with excitement as Cardinal Robert Prevost was named the new pope from a balcony at the Vatican on Thursday.
“American, he’s American,” Ricken exclaimed. “Oh my gosh, I can’t believe this.”
“I don’t think anybody expected that,” he added.
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The Diocese of Green Bay organized a watch party shortly after white smoke could be seen from the Sistine Chapel, indicating a new pope had been selected Thursday.
Ricken said he’s excited Pope Leo XIV is from the “heart of the United States.”
“I never thought that would ever happen in my lifetime,” Ricken said.
Cardinal Robert Prevost, the first ever American pope, is from the Chicago area.
“He’s a Midwesterner,” said the Very Rev. John Girotti of the Diocese of Green Bay. “The pope is a Midwesterner. Wow.”
There are 1.1 million Catholics in five dioceses in Wisconsin, according to the Wisconsin Catholic Conference. Catholics across the state mourned the death of Pope Francis just over two weeks ago.
The bells at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist in downtown Milwaukee tolled 88 times in honor of Francis’ life on the morning of his death. Those same bells tolled Thursday morning, but this time, in celebration of the new pope.
“We are so endeared to our popes, and they’re very special to us,” said the Most Rev. Jeffrey Haines, the auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee.
“We have a lot of love for them, even though some people have never been to Rome or ever seen a pope, but somehow we all feel we know him and love him, and he cares for each and every one of us,” Haines added.
Haines also said it’s exciting to know that Pope Leo XIV grew up just miles from Milwaukee.
“We don’t know, he might like custard,” Haines joked.
Bishop Donald Hying of the Diocese of Madison said he had a mix of “surprise and excitement” when he heard the news of the selection.
“I never thought there would be a pope from the United States, I don’t think anybody did,” Hying said. “So that was a remarkable surprise, but certainly a nod of affirmation to the church here in our own country.”
The bells at the Church of the Gesu on the Marquette University campus also rang in celebration of the new pope Thursday. Annie Tate, a law student at Marquette, isn’t Catholic, but she said her dad grew up a Catholic and she knows a lot about the religion.
“I was shocked when I heard that it was an American pope,” Tate said. “My husband actually texted me, he was like, ‘first time ever, an American pope.’
“And then I saw he’s from Chicago — I’m from Chicago, so that was fun to see,” she added.
Haines was surprised at how quickly Pope Leo XIV was selected. The first day of the conclave was Wednesday.
He thought the selection would take several days, and he thinks the quick selection is a good sign.
“I think there was thought in this contentious culture that that would take a while for the cardinals to agree on it,” Haines said. “But it’s amazing how quickly it went. So that shows, I think, a good sign of unity.”
Hying said he’s also happy the selection went quickly.
“It’s always good to have a pope when you’re Catholic,” Hying said. “And not having a pope is kind of a weird, temporary feeling, but we always know that God provides another leader for us, and so here we go on a brand new pontificate.”
Ricken said he’s excited to learn more about the new leader of the church.
“He’s also got a real pastor’s heart,” Ricken said. “We’ve heard that for quite a few years now, that he really loves God’s people. He’s kind of measured. He’s definitely of intellectual background, and he’s a good pastor, too.”
Milwaukee Archbishop Jeffrey Grob posted a statement on social media about the selection.
“We honor the memory of Pope Francis and now rejoice with Leo XIV, asking God to grant him the wisdom and peace of heart to shepherd well,” Grob wrote in the post. “As Americans, it is especially gratifying to witness the history of the first American Pope.”
A special Mass will be held Tuesday, May 13 at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist in downtown Milwaukee in honor of the new pope.
WPR’s Corrinne Hess contributed to this report.
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