The Pope as a Shepherd for the World (Father Simon Says)

So… Is He Really the First American Pope?   Carolyn called in asking what you may be asking:   -Was Cardinal Prevost (now Pope Leo XIV) picked to help increase Catholic faith in America? 🤔   -And can we please settle whether he counts as an “American Pope” already?   Fr. Simon’s take: Let’s not overthink it. The Cardinals didn’t elect him because of some PR strategy for America. They elected him because "they knew him, trusted him, and saw a man who loves Jesus deeply"... a love that's even visible in the way he bows his head at the Holy Name. 🙇‍♂️❤️   “They knew what they were getting. And what they were getting was a man who bows at the name of Jesus.” – Fr. Simon     🌎 American? South American? Midwestern? South Side of Heaven?   Now about that “American” label...   Fr. Simon lovingly roasted the obsession with national labels. Yes, our new Holy Father is from Chicago’s South Side, speaks flawless Midwestern English, perfect Spanish, and spent much of his life serving the poor in Peru. But do we really need to put a flag on the papacy?   He's not the “American Pope.” He’s the Universal Pope: the head of a Church that isn’t defined by ethnicity or nation. 💒   Fr. Simon reminds us:   -We are citizens of heaven, not defined by earthly borders.   There’s no such thing as the American Catholic Church... just Catholics in America.   Catholic = Universal. Not Democrat. Not Republican. Not even Bears vs. Packers. 🏈✝️     Fr. Simon wrapped up with some humor:   “He’s from the South Side. He probably roots for the Sox. And maybe the Bears.    “I served in Puerto Rican parishes most of my life. Does that make me Puerto Rican? Nah, it made me more German somehow.” 😂         The best way to listen to the Best of the Week is on our #1 Free Catholic App. It’s free and always will be! To get and share the Relevant Radio app, check it out here.