Mark Lancaster, St. Justin

“What I was looking for right away is, is he still going to have the Chicago twang?” Mark Lancaster, a former schoolmate of Pope Leo XIV, remembers his classmate Robert Prevost as a reverent and serious-minded student, focused on serving the Church from a very early age.

He lost all contact with Robert after seventh grade when his family moved away. Nevertheless, his childhood community in the southern suburbs of Chicago, where he and a young Pope Leo grew up, kept tabs on his classmate. “I would follow him over the years. People in our hometown would say, ‘Oh, he is a bishop now,’ or ‘He is a cardinal.’”

Mark described his reaction to Pope Leo’s election. “When I heard the Cardinal Protodeacon announce, ‘Robert Francis Prevost,’ I experienced a mixture of shock and euphoria. His first appearance on the balcony brought a feeling of great pride.” Mark admitted that though Cardinal Prevost was on the short list of candidates, it seemed very unlikely that an American would be selected, but he still always had hope for his former classmate.

Mark reflected, “It is a very inspirational event, knowing that someone could rise from a small middle-class town in the 1960s, and driven by his inner faith and hard work, rise to the papacy.” Mark also said about Pope Leo, “I think he's a man of the people, all people. He has lived in the third world and seems to have 'the Francis touch,’ the touch of empathy.” Mark also shared, “It is a wonderful feeling to have some minimal degree of connection to Pope Leo.” He is looking forward to what Pope Leo’s papacy will bring.

Father James Saenz Diaz, Parochial Vicar of Sacred Heart

Prior to his assignment in the diocese of San José, Father James Diaz ministered in Peru.  There, he had the chance to converse with Father Robert Prevost when Prevost was both Vicar General of the Order of Saint Augustine and then Bishop of Chiclayo.

"Diocesan priests were invited to participate in the Eucharist, where Pope Leo XIV also participated. Before celebrating the mass, we shared moments of conversation,” Father James recollected.

About the Church’s new leader, Father James had this to say, “We can expect the closeness of a pastor who always communicates to us the immeasurable love of a Father God, who calls us to live as brothers and above all in peace and unity.” Father also shared his hope for the Church going forward during the papacy of Leo: “My hope is for a Church that increasingly reaches out to its brothers and sisters, as Jesus shows us in the Gospels.”