‘Christ, I think you’ve given us a good Pope’: London Catholics celebrate new pontiff

As CTV’s Bryan Bicknell reports, many believe Pope Leo XIV will continue in the path of progress set by his predecessor, Pope Francis.

Catholics within the Diocese of London are rejoicing the election of the new pontiff.

Aidan Goulart, 21, who took in the Friday noon mass at St. Peter’s Cathedral Basilica in London, said he watched with anticipation as Robert Prevost became Pope Leo XIV.

“One thing that struck me the most, there was kind of that brief kind of silence up there in the balcony, and the whole crowd are roaring, and he’s holding back tears, and you can just see all the emotion,” said Goulart.

It’s the first time in history an American Pope has been elected to lead the Catholic Church. The 69-year-old was born in Chicago, Illinois, and becomes the first Pope from the Augustinian Order.

Parishioner and St. Peter’s Cathedral Basilica volunteer, Norene Culp, said she likes what she sees so far.

“He just had that look of patience, which we need. He had that look about him, and you could talk to him, and he would answer anything that you wanted to know,” she remarked.

Bishop Ronald Fabbro of the Diocese of London said he believes the new Pope will continue with the work of his predecessor, Pope Francis.

“Particularly on the church being there for the poor and the marginalized. He spoke yesterday, Pope Leo the 14th spoke very strongly about being that type of missionary church that is walking with our people and close to our people,” explained Bishop Fabbro.

There is also a direct connection between the London Diocese and Pope Leo, as the would-be Pope spent several years working as a missionary in Peru. Fabbro said that’s where some members of the London Diocese crossed paths with him.

“He was a missionary in Peru, worked among the poor there. They said that he was a humble man, a man that was very close to the people as their priest and bishop,” said Bishop Fabbro.

And while many Catholics are hopeful that Pope Leo will follow the same progressive path as Pope Francis, there are still those in the faith who are not comfortable with the direction. Catholic parishioner Francois Renaud counts himself among them.

“As far as being a good Pope, it’ll remain to be seen, if he doesn’t stick to the old scriptures and how things were done in the past,” said Renaud.

As for Aidan Goulart, he said he feels good about the future of the Catholic church under Pope Leo.

“I was filled with kind of hope and love. I remember saying to myself, Christ I think you’ve given us a good Pope, and that’s all we can kind of pray for and want out of this conclave,” he said.