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The first from the United States and only the second after Argentina's Pope Francis from the New World. Robert Provost, Pope Leo XIV facing his followers for the first time, good evening today. And one of the oldest of all world ceremonies still in practice, 133 Cardinals chose the next leader of the Catholic Church. And though he is said to be in many ways a natural successor to Pope Francis, the Vatican watchers have long doubted the chances that an American would be elevated to the papacy.
Though in some ways the Chicago-born Villanova educated dual U.S. proving citizen's status in perhaps easy categories. In the hour ahead, we'll look at who he is, what he believes, and what he may face in leading the Church. But first, how it looked and sounded as a cardinal named Bob became Pope.
The seagulls hardly noticed what the whole world could not miss. But the smoke on the Sistine Chapel roof brought news. It came at first from thin air. Then in Latin, a language of the Church, but far older than that.
I don't see a robot, but a man. The first words brought a hush. Then a roar was the square and 1.4 billion members of the Catholic faith all around the world understood what was coming and waited for this. Abemos papa man.
Abemos papa, we have a Pope, historic words. Then in the very next breath, history made. Amen and this is a moment. I'm not a woman.
I'm a woman. I'm a woman. I'm a woman. I'm a woman.
I'm a woman. I'm a woman. I'm a woman. I'm a woman.
I'm a woman. I'm a woman. I'm a woman. I'm a woman.
I'm a woman. I'm a woman. I'm a woman. I'm a woman.
I'm a woman. I'm a woman. I'm a woman. I'm a woman.
I'm a woman. I'm a woman. I'm a woman. I'm a woman.
I'm a woman. I'm a woman. I'm a woman. I'm a woman.
I'm a woman. I'm a woman. I'm a woman. I'm a woman.
I'm a woman. I'm a woman. I'm a woman. I'm a woman.
I'm a woman. And the raised in the US looking out on more than a few people waving American flags, he spoke first in Italian, then in Spanish, but not English. La patcha ese ha contoutivoy! He's be with you all.
Freteles o relicarissi. Dear his brothers and sisters, this is the first greetings of their resurrected Christ, the good shepherd who has given up his life for God. And I should also like this greeting of peace to enter our hearts and your families and to all those people wherever they are. All peoples throughout the world.
Peace be with you. He thanked Pope Francis, who was a close ally. He pledged to lead a missionary church, a bridge building church. Then in Spanish, the language of both Francis and his adopted country, Peru, the new Pope closed with this.
And I should like to pray to get with you. Let us pray for this new mission, for the entire church and for peace in the world. And let us ask for this special grace from Mary of all. Joining me now is Enovatic and Correspondent Christopher Lamb, the witness of this historic day overlooking St Peter Square.
What did it feel like to be there in that moment? And were you surprised if you did not speak in English? What do you think the message being sent through that word? Well, and I think there was a message there.
Of course, the first American Pope addressing the crowd in Italian and Spanish, referencing in particular his diocese in Peru that he led for many years. I think there was a clear message to say that yes, he's an American Pope, but he's a Pope who spans national borders. I have to say, I was stunned and very surprised when I heard that Cardinal Prevost had been chosen as Pope Leo XIV. There had been some speculation of his canvas, the canvas that he was looking strong.
I had reported that and I'd heard from several cardinals that there could be an American Pope, but that nationality was not going to be a handicap, as it might have been in the past for other strong candidates from the US. But when I heard that Prevost had been chosen, it really was a huge surprise, a stunning moment, Anderson. And what more do we know about his, what kind of a Pope he may be? I mean, whether it's based on personality, ideology, beliefs, how is he expected to lead the church?
Well, I think he's going to continue in the line of Francis when it comes to church reforms. He made that clear from the speech from the balcony. I think he's going to try and be a unifier. I've met him when he was a card on once in the Vatican and it was clear then when I spoke to him, he's a very thoughtful person, a good listener.
And I think he's renowned as a methodical and capable administrator. I think the big thing that he is going to be tasked with doing is institutionalizing the reforms that Pope Francis has started, whether it's around the role of women, whether it's in terms of a more inclusive church, where it's not just the bishops leading the church, but the people also being part of the mission of the church. I think that's going to be a very important to him, but also his choice of Leo after Leo XIII. I'm not sure that he wants to be a pope who speaks out for the rights of workers for the poorest, economically, just as the first people as the main Catholic social teaching.
Just quickly, do you know if he's going to live in the Apostolic Palace or like Pope Francis live in the more modest guesthouse? Sort of a lot of pressure on that decision, I guess. Well, that's a big decision for him. I think tonight he's going to be in the Casa Santa Marta.
We've just seen some video of him going back to his old apartments in the Vatican near the Casa Santa Marta, I think, to collect some belongings and presume he's less than people and greeted them there. He's going to make a decision about that. That's very significant. But I think it'll be in the Casa Santa Marta for the time being able to make a decision later on.
Alright, Christopher, thanks very much. First veteran out from Father Patrick Mary Briscoe, a host of the God-spelany podcast and editor of the Catholic magazine, our Sunday visitor, at least Alan, seen in Vatican analysts and senior correspondent for Crux Now, Father Edward Beck, seen in religion contributor Andrew Swiler, author of Walking the Bible and the Great Works. Father Briscoe, let me just start out with you. You were in St Peter Square for the white smoke, the address?
What was that like? Father Briscoe, can you hear me? I can't. What was it like to be there?
What was it like to be there? It was extraordinary. I was just consumed by disbelief. I couldn't believe that it was actually happening.
I heard his name. I heard it clearly. And I turned to a colleague of mine, just to confirm it, because I was in such a state of shock in the conventional wisdom, was that it wouldn't be an American. That's what we were all told, that it wouldn't be an American.
But here we have this hope. It's not only from the United States, but really it's a citizen of the world. It was just such an exciting moment to see him show up there on the logia. Elise, I sat in your apartment, your beautiful apartment in Rome, with your amazing husband, John Allen, who I missed terribly.
And a lot of names were being bandied about as potential people. There were a lot of theories. Were you surprised by this? You know, Anderson, a part of me was simply because I thought when the vote came this fast, maybe there couldn't have been consensus on him.
He wasn't one of the main front runners going into this. I thought if the vote came this fast, it was probably one of those names that we had heard more of going into this. So when it came to the fact, I was surprised that there had been agreement on Cardinal Pribos so quickly. But the Cardinals seemed to have clear in their minds what they were looking for.
He fits a lot of the bills. What they're looking for is somebody that is seen as a global figure. He has a lot of experience, obviously he's American, but he has experience abroad. He also has experience inside the Vatican.
So he spent a lot of time in a lot of different areas, and a lot of different contexts in the church. He's seen as a good manager. So it really made sense. And I think the Cardinals obviously came to a very quick and easy agreement on that.
Father Beck, you crossed paths with him in the past. What are your thoughts tonight? I was amazed, Anderson, when it was announced. Did you ever think there'd be an American Pope in your lifetime?
I did not. No, I didn't. And especially one that we went to the same theological school. And we had the same scripture professor who texted me before it.
What if it ever could be him? And there it was. But I was when he walked out and he talked about being a bridge builder. I was struck that he did wear the mozzetta.
So it's kind of a bridge between the progressives and the traditionalist I thought. You think there was a message? I think it was a message. And the name that he took is about social justice.
I mean, he worked with migrants, with immigrants. He's really is a peace builder. So all of the issues that he really cares about, he's worked for. And it's Pope Francis' vision, the social vision of the church.
I mean, it made difference on other things. But I think he's really going to try to be that bridge builder that Pope Francis was. Do you think the choice of the name Leo is a statement of something? I do think it's a big.
I do think it's a very big statement. Okay. So if you look back, Leo became, Leo 13th was the Pope in the 1880s and the 1890s. That was a period of massive change in the world.
First, it was a period of, it was really the tipping point of secularism. Coming out of Darwinism, religion was challenged. It was also a period of incredible migration. Right?
25 million people came from Europe to America. And then another 25 million people moved from rural areas to big cities. Chicago was one of those big cities. Chicago became sort of Chicago was the big 19th century city in 1893 to Chicago World's Fair.
Leo was Pope during that time. And what happened in that time was that the Catholic Church got a new mission, which was to serve all of these people confused by secularism. He got a little destabilized by moving, flooding into cities. And Leo the 14th, who the Leo the 14th has studied, said this was the mission of the church to serve people disabled.
You know, destabilized. This is an equally destabilizing time. I think he sent the message both in the name and then also the statement that he made in St. Peter's Square today that he's going to be here to serve people who were confused and lost and suffering and worried.
And that's so many of us today. I do think that's true. I do think that's true. And I think what we will see in this man is someone who is going to continue.
Remember, he was a missionary. And so he has spoken out about immigration and migrants, climate change, two big issues of Francis. He's critiqued the current vice president and president on their stances on immigration. So I think he's going to be vociferous in these social issues.
I think he may not be as satisfying to some people who are looking for these big doctrinal changes, just as Pope Francis wasn't really satisfying to those people. Father, what do you envision for what lies ahead? Well, what I found so amazing is that when Pope Leo stepped out on the logia and he said to us all, peace be with you all, he gave us something very inspiring, very spiritual, because he clarified that the peace that he was offering was peace given in the name of Jesus. Jesus Christ, peace given in the risen Christ.
This is a man who's really a disciple, a man who's going to offer us a kind of richness of Catholic spiritual teaching, who's going to pave away for us to come to know God better and to love God better. And that for me was extremely satisfying to know immediately seeing him that I had a spiritual father, someone I could look to, someone who had lead me along in the way of the gospel. At least you met Pope Leo a few months ago, what we were impression of him. You know, actually my husband and I had him over to dinner at our house.
My husband has been on the rum scene for a long time. And just known him, he had known it for when he was still just a priest, you know, in Chicago and also in Peru. So we offered the invitation, he graciously accepted, you know, and he's very kind, he's very down to earth, he's very good listener, he has a good sense of humor, he doesn't take himself too seriously, but he does take what he does seriously, and that was very clear. So it was really a nice moment, you know, and I think he's probably more shocked today than anybody else.
I actually bumped into him on the street a couple of months ago when the Pope was in the hospital, and he said he didn't think this was going to happen. You know, you're being put out there as a... There's a pop-up, you know, that's going to happen and he said, now they're never going to elect an American. So...
Wow. I think he's fighting those words today. Yeah. Bruce, do you think there will be a lot of differences in, you know, Father Beck talked about how Francis, you know, opened up kind of dialogue, and yet there were not doctrinal changes.
Do you see doctrinal changes? Do you see this as sort of a, you know, people talked about it at him as Leo as a good administrator? I do think that one of the reasons that he was selected is, I do think it's a victory for Francis, right? Because it's not the radical change possibility that was before us.
At the same time, it would also address some of the weaknesses of Francis, right? Because he is a good administrator. He knows how to read a spreadsheet. I talked to some of the day and knows how to read a spreadsheet.
But it's also fascinating to me that a conclave which was made of of the people, the majority of whom were put in by Pope Francis, who came from the Global South, not the Global North, did choose an American, yet an American who spent much of his life in Peru and didn't speak English in his first public statement. So, that's what I thought when the shocking moment came, right? The word Catholic means universal. The Catholic Church introduced the idea.
Judaism had been a regional religion before, and the Catholic Church introduced it. Today, a massive, this felt to me like something that I'd been building for 2000 years. He's an American Pope, but he's a North American and a South American Pope. And it's now been 1978 with the last Italian.
We've now had Polish, German, Argentine, American, and Peruvian. Today felt to me like the most global conclave elected the most global candidate. Bruce, thank you for the back as well, at least Alan as well. Say hi to John for me and Father Bruce go as well.
A lot more heads tonight including a live report from Chicago where the Pope was born in a reaction from Catholics around the country. Also an acquaintance, a former US ambassador to the Holy See joins us with his, taking the cardinal he knew and the history he's now making. I'm CNN tech reporter Claire Duffy. This week on the podcast Terms of Service, the idea of writing in a car with no driver can feel daunting and this technology raises questions about safety and the future of transportation.
That's why I'm here with Nicole Gable, head of business development and strategic partnerships at WeMo. We've always been about safety, no distracted driving, no drunk driving. We Mo follows the rules of the road. Listen to CNN's Terms of Service wherever you get your podcasts.
Chatterity. And to be close to those who suffer. Pope Leo the 14th from the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica.
For most people it's likely the first time hearing his voice, the voice of an American and by birth of Chicagoan. Since Whitney Wilde is in Chicago for us tonight, what's the reaction been there like? Understand, their surprise is only outmatched by their sheer delight to see one of their own assumed this leadership role in the church, the head of all of the church. It was right here in this building behind the Anderson where he lived for a period of time in Chicago, living, working, praying and developing the minds of future Augustinian leaders.
Pope Leo actually worked here after he was our prior general. Does this feel different now? Well, it's like a holy space. We're very hopeful that his spirit will come and help guide our students so that they have the same values that he has and for the reason that the Holy Spirit picked him to be the Pope.
Anything special we should look at or see? Well, yeah. This cross is symbolic of our mission in Peru. It's called the Cristo Campacino, but it represents Peru, it represents the poor and the people that work the land.
This is the heart of the community, which is the chapel where the community gathers the prey in the morning, have mass. This is where Leo would have celebrated mass and preyed here in the community. Every morning? He gave the mass?
Yes. This is where we first prayed with a called Morning Prayer, which is the Psalms. There's a kitchen there. It was actually a cook.
He liked cooking. He was? Yeah. And Peru, he would make pizzas for us in the house.
He was a... Oh, really? Wow. Because he studied in Italy, so he knew he learned how to make pizzas.
A Pope of many talents, Anderson. One thing that Father John Leiden, who we interviewed, insisted upon, is that we are not to think of Pope Leo as an American Pope instead. He's American-born, but he is universal. He has a global mindset.
One of the key things that will make him a distinguished Pope among the other 266. He is now the 267th Pope. All right. Well, thanks so much.
I'm John Miannaus, former floor congressman, Francis Rooney. He's also former US ambassador to the Holy See. He's known Pope Leo since the 1990s ambassador. Can you first of all, did you ever imagine you would know he Pope?
No. I never did. Nor did I imagine there would be an American Pope. What's your history with Pope Leo?
What kind of a person did you find him to be? Well, we became acquainted with what we used to call Father Bob when he became head of the Midwest Augustinians in the late 90s, and our children attended an Augustinian school in Tulsa, and I was on the board, and he came down to the monthly board meetings. In fact, I went with a bunch of Augustinians from Tulsa to watch his investiture as the head of the Midwest Augustinians. Then, lo and behold, President Bush sent us to Rome, my family, and Father Bob was over there because he'd become head of all the Augustinians.
So we saw him a couple of times a week for several years when we were in Rome. And I understand he was at your house last winter. What's it like seeing someone you have personal history with? Were you watching it live?
Did you see him come out there? Did you know right away who he was? It was incredible. Never thought I'd see something like that.
To see someone you know that well become the Pope. He's going to be a fantastic Pope. He's very balanced. He's judicious.
He's calm. But he's also very smart. And he knows things that the church needs that have been talked about previously on your show. What kind of a Pope?
Can you elaborate on that? What kind of a Pope do you think he will be? Because obviously I'm fascinated by this conclave which was, as I said before, the majority of them picked by Francis from the Global South, not from Europe, not from the West. And yet they did pick somebody who was an American that would spend all this time in Peru.
And to Whitney's point is really international. He is international. He spent so much time in Peru. And he spent so much time in Rome.
Like all that time we were over there with him. I think that he's going to deliver a lot of the same messages of Pope Francis, but in a much more delicate way. Maybe less confrontational at times. Although he's going to be willing to mix it up on issues like immigration and the treatment of disadvantaged people.
I would expect him to continue Pope Francis's work there. But he also brings an organizational skill which the church sadly needs right now in terms of its finances and the organization of the Curia. And the August Indians have never had any organizational challenges or problems because they've had good leaders like Publio. And he'll employ those skills now.
I really appreciate your time tonight. Thank you so much. Ambassador Francis Rooney. Coming up next, we have a live reporting from Rome and seen as David Culver who was in the crowd in St.
Peter's Square when history was made. I was completely overwhelmed. I just thought that they could come about to again. It was divine word college seminary in Iowa where students and staff watched as the new Pope was announced.
We're back with more of our breaking news on the election of Leo XIV. First American Pope, David Culver was with the crowd at St. Peter's Square when the white smoke first emerged from assisting Chappell signaling the Cardinals had made their choice. Oh!
What are you feeling in this one of your emotional? No! We're so much more because we were here at these moments. You're just happy.
Yeah, we're feeling happy. I feel like I'm here. And you can still see the smoke. Yeah, it's like smoke by now.
Yeah, my mom is cutting me up. It's my interest to keep you overwhelmed. I think I think I'm about to again. We have a new father and a few moments being introduced again.
I hope it is Lee. That's never happened. I don't think I have seen so many smiles in one place and tears at the same time. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
We're going to have a special father again, you know, as Catholics and also kind of for the whole world. Being able to witness this life is the best birthday present ever. It is your birthday, right? Today's my 25th birthday.
Yeah. Happy birthday. Thank you. You've got a Pope.
And now we have an American Pope. Something that we'll remember for the rest of our lives. From Delhi, sir. To be here in the midst of all that.
I mean, it's rather lonely here now, but I mean, as you saw, it was jam packed tens of thousands of people. And everybody finds a way to have some sort of connection to it. And it's not just those from the US who say the first American Pope we've had folks who are Latinos who come up to be and say, well, really, he's a Pope of the Americas and they've made a point of that. And it's interesting to be here and say Peter Square.
I mean, I was thinking about you because you were here almost two weeks ago covering a very somber event. And the seminarian here said, you're filled with grief in this moment too because you're still thinking about Pope Francis. And so people were filled with tears, but at the same time had smiles on their face. And so it's this very strange clash of emotions, they're battling.
Amazing day, David Culver. Thanks so much. This morning before the Conclave elected Pope Leo, the group snapped. The survivors network of those abused by priests released a six page open letter to whomever would become the next ponte.
It calls for a universal zero tolerance law enacted into canon law removing all abusers and complicit officials and other actions by the church. Past allegations have resurfaced against Leo before he even became a cardinal involving how he handled abuse claims against other priests here in the United States and Peru. Randy Kate tonight has more. Not everyone is celebrating Pope Leo the 14th.
Even before he was named Pope, survivors of sexual abuse in the Catholic Church had been speaking out against him and others who they believe inadequately responded to alleged sexual abuse within the church. We are here today because we are standing up for our dignity and our honor. Just yesterday, the survivors network for those abused by priests known as snap held a press conference in Rome sounding the alarm about abuse in the Catholic Church. Because that shame that we carry is not ours.
That shame belongs enough with hierarchy and it belongs with the Vatican. This cover up and what's been going on is shameless. In March, the group had sent a letter to Pope Francis mentioning then Cardinal Francis Prevost at issue two different cases of alleged sexual abuse by priests in Chicago and Peru. In 2000, when Prevost was a provincial supervisor in Chicago for the Augustinian order, snap says he allowed a priest accused of abusing at least 13 minors to live at the Augustinian order St.
John Stonefryryry in Hyde Park, half a block from an elementary school. That priest, Father James Ray, had been barred since 1991 from performing parish work and barred from being alone with minors since 1990. Restrictions the Archdiocese of Chicago noted when it asked Prevost to allow Ray to live at the friary. This is according to a complaint to the Vatican just six weeks before Prevost was named Pope.
CNN has reached out to the Chicago Diocese for comment. More recently, there have been questions about what Prevost knew about abuse allegations at the Chickalaya Diocese in Peru. He served there for nearly a decade until 2023. In that case, two priests were accused of molesting three young girls, sisters, between 2007 and 2015.
The snap says the future Pope had promised but failed to open an investigation. The Vatican denied any wrongdoing by Prevost according to published reports. Following the announcement of Pope Leo, snap spokesperson said, now that he's the Pope, we're gravely concerned. One of the known subjects, Rodolfo Soriano Nunez, a sociologist in Mexico City who's written extensively about the Roman Catholic Church and his handling of clerical sexual abuse, said that for any failings the new Pope was one of the few bishops in Peru who tried seriously to address sexual abuse by priests setting up a commission to deal with cases.
Much more hit tonight on this history-making night. The election of the election of Leo XIV is the 267 Pope of the Catholic Church, the first one from the United States with the faithless saying here in the U.S. Celebration Vatican City and for 1.4 billion members of the Catholic faith, the constant celebration around the world, New Yorkers and visitors alike gathered from Mass tonight at St. Patrick's Cathedral here in New York City.
They've been coming in ever since the news for Sproccino's Brinden Gress is there for us. So what's the reaction like at St. Patrick's? Yeah, I understand that at that Mass there was a flag of American flag and the Vatican flag.
The priest saying that there is so much hope in celebration that this is the new Pope and American Pope. I tell you, we actually got here to St. Patrick's Cathedral, the heart of New York City, after that smoke billowed from the chimney before anybody knew who the actual Pope was, and all of the stairs here at St. Patrick's Cathedral filled with people who had come here waiting to hear who that new Pope would be, and when it was announced, there was a squeeze, applause.
Someone yelled, he's American, he's American. I want you to hear more from people who we talked to on the steps here at St. Patrick's. When he was in Malas, this is an American Pope, he just-oh gosh, he's just so grateful, so thankful.
That was such a big moment having American Pope. It's nothing new, something we hadn't seen before. And now having an American, it's really exciting. It's a really big deal.
Yeah, and you know I talked to one woman, Anderson, who said she was up by Central Park, and she doesn't have much faith anymore in the Catholic Church, even though she is Catholic, and she said she came here looking for inspiration and sure she felt it, knowing that there is this new leader of Catholics, and that's something we have heard from many people we spoke to throughout the day today, was everyone has so much hope for this new leader of the Catholic Church, and really just people of all faiths across the globe. I'm Jim Gress, thanks very much. I was Democratic Congressman, Tom Swazzy of New York. We'd spoken in Rome when he was part of the bi-parties in the group of lawmakers of 10-foot princesses.
Funeral, it seems like a long time ago to me that that occurred. It's nice to see you here under these circumstances. What was your reaction? I was shocked, like everybody else I think.
I was so surprised. And you know, you heard all the people giving their opinions, and somebody I listened to is Bishop Barron, who's the most followed Catholic on social media after the Pope. And he was like, oh, it'll never be an American. The Americans have the strongest economy, technology, and culture, with movies, and things like that.
They're not going to have them do religion, too. And he said, I was wrong. Although this Pope has certainly spent so much of his life in Peru, chose not to speak English in his opening statements, which I think is a very strong message. I think the whole idea of being a Pope from the Americas, not just North America, but South America as well, is a very important message as well, considering all the things that are going on in America.
And elected by a majority of Cardinals from the Global South. Right. So this is really an exciting time for us here in the United States, for Catholics, for Americans, for people all over the world, especially when he's going to continue this message that we've got to love each other, and we've got to forgive each other, and we shouldn't judge each other. There was a social media account in the name of Robert Provost that shared an article that got a lot of pick up today saying, J.D.
Vance is wrong. Jesus doesn't ask us to rank our love for others. And I think the first comment that the Vice President had made about what's known as the Order of Charity in Scripture, that account, if it is him or not, can't confirm it, but reposted articles over the years, expressed in criticism of the First Trump Administration. How do you think this does this impact politics?
I mean, now there's another American who has got a global audience, President Trump certainly is, you know, probably the most powerful person in the world or one of them. This Pope has a tremendous amount of power. Is it American? You know, it's basic Catholic teaching, Christian teaching, Pope Francis now, Pope Leo, that we have to look for the face of God in the poor, in the homeless, in the immigrants, in everyone.
And, you know, we really have to love each other, everybody, and especially the people that are most vulnerable. There were some conservative Catholics who were not huge fans of Francis as they, or not as much as they like some other popes. I'm wondering what you think this Pope Leo will sort of reach out to them or send them. It seems like even in the vestments he was wearing, as some have pointed out, those are vestments Francis wouldn't have worn.
He did wear. Do you think he's kind of sending a message? Well, I'm sure that everything he does will send a message, but our hope is that he'll unify the church, and he'll be able to spread a message to everybody of these basic teachings. And that's an exciting idea.
It's going to have an impact on Catholicism in the United States, the popularity of it. I hope so. I think Catholicism is a good idea. We should have more people get interested in it.
And the more people love each other, the more they forgive each other, the better things are. But this Pope believes in the importance of the immigrants, but he also believes in secure borders. He believes that there's too much concentration of wealth in the hands of a few and not for the working people, but he also decry socialism. I took a look at the insect...
I'm going to sound like a little bit of a nerd right now, but I looked at it in cyclical. That was from the Pope, Leo XIII, on the way over here today. And he decried socialism that tried to prey upon the envy of the poor for the rich and the importance of personal property. But at the same time, the need for us to share the wealth with the people who go to work every day.
And that's a basic message. Everybody in America should believe whether you're a left-wing progressive or right-wing conservative. In return for working hard, you make enough money so you can buy a house, educate your children, pay for health insurance and retire when they're scared. We have to get back to that in America.
And this message from this type of pope, from this pope, could help us to accomplish that. So that hard work should be rewarded. Everybody should be able to have a decent life. Congratulations, Charles.
I appreciate your time. Thank you. Good to have you here. Coming up, Pope Leo's connection to Villanova University.
We have a picture in 1977, a yearbook photo with students and staff there saying about his historic election and his faith in the order that he comes from, Augustinians. The students and staff at Villanova University just outside of Philadelphia are celebrating the election of Pope Leo XIV. Take a look at this Villanova yearbook photo from 1977. He earned an undergraduate degree in math.
Danny Freeman joins us now from the campus tonight. What's the reaction there, Ben? Anderson, the reaction has been pride, tremendous amount of joy and just a feeling of celebration out here at Villanova University. And remember, before Pope Leo XIV became pope, became a cardinal, became even a priest.
He was here as he noted in 1977 studying for his Bachelor of Science in Mathematics. Also note he's an honorary doctor here of humanities, which he received in 2014. Anderson, when I got here to campus, the bells of the church here, they were ringing for multiple hours in celebration. I spoke to a faculty member here who told me that while he never thought it would be really possible for an American pope, he was hoping, and when he found out it would be Pope Leo XIV, he said he cried with tears of joy.
And then Anderson, I spoke to students who came out here just to reflect on the moment, the surrealness that an alum is a member of this Villanova community. I want you to take a listen to what one student was reflecting on today. It's hard to put into words. I think it's a testament to the school's strong Catholic faith, and I think it just shows that it's a huge community, and everyone's out here saying prayers for the church.
It just shows that we all feel such a strong bond of community here, and it's just like, I think I'm going to remember the stay for the rest of my life. And Anderson, that's something we heard over and over again that people here are not going to forget this day. The last thing I'll note, Villanova is an Augustinian Catholic University. It's motto is Veritas, Unitas, Caritas, Truth, Unity, and Love, inspired by the teachings of St.
Augustine. Well, who did Pope Leo cite today is part of his first initial remarks as the pope, St. Augustine. There's truly a connection here that folks here on this campus draw to the new leader at the Vatican.
And I'm just wondering if anyone has a question. I mean, I was following Robert Hagen, who's also coming to us from Villanova. He's known Pope Leo for more than 25 years. Father Rob, it's great to have you.
Obviously, I'm sure you were surprised to hear that this man you know so well became pope. What do you feel like we're at this hour? Anderson, we were flabbergasted. I mean, it was just watching like a member of your family emerge from that balcony.
There were just so many emotions. I'm here in our St. Augustine friary in kind of the administrative offices of the province of St. Augustine, where we do a lot of work for the order.
And so the staff and some students and people were just crying and so excited to see someone that the man that we know, the humility, the intellect, the approachability, the warmth, the humor, the depth of faith and love of people, the love of the poor, to see that person now be the gift to the world really, as this as the Holy Father is a shepherd of this flock. And I know you've always called him Bob. In the past, can you just talk about the Augustinian order? Everybody knows Pope Francis was a Jesuit first Jesuit pope from the order, Pope Leo's the first Augustinian pope.
Talk about the Augustinians. Thank you. You know, there are many different orders that support the church. As you mentioned, the Jesuits, Franciscans, Dominicans, we're Augustinians.
We take a lot of our charism and inspiration from St. Augustine, who lived in the late three hundreds and early four hundreds. It was incredible prolific writer and preacher and rhetorician. He's known as the Doctor of Grace.
A core value for Augustine was friendship. He believed that we encounter and discover the presence of God through friendship. And so these values of friendship, very tasunitas, caritas, they're not just something we read about. They're values that we commit ourselves to as a way of life.
And so Leo XIV was forged, his vocation was forged on that foundation. He's very much influenced and will lead and guide in that way. And the in terms of the order of Augustinians, they consider each other brothers, correct? Yes, literally.
So not everyone that joins us is ordained to the priesthood, but you are a brother. And you take vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience, a kind of a commitment to a simplicity of life. We all know the noise that's out there. We all know the temptation and the things the world can get all of us.
But to try to block out some of that noise and stay focused on what for Augustine was a core principle. I love God and love your neighbor. And I think, you know, for Leo, I don't think people aspire to be pope. I think he loved God and he loved his neighbor.
And it took him to places like the poorest of the poor in Peru and to places around the world where people just discovered this authenticity and this genuine love for people. Yeah, Father Hagen, it's really a pleasure to talk to you. Thank you so much. I wish you the best.
Coming up, Gaitlin Collins starts now with the source. Thanks for watching. I'll see you tomorrow. From the descendants of history makers involved in the Louisiana Purchase to the Lewis and Clark Expedition discover the untold stories of American expansion in the CNN original series, This Land, premiering June 7 on CNN.
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