At St. James Catholic Cathedral in Orlando, a wave of joy swept through the congregation as they gathered to celebrate Mother’s Day and the first Sunday Mass under the direction of the newly elected Pope Leo XIV. As reported by ClickOrlando, the Mass held a special place in attendees' hearts, symbolizing new beginnings and shared hope. The cathedral's rector, Miguel Gonzalez, shared the sentiment of his congregation, highlighting both the significance of the day and the historic nature of an American-born pope taking the papal seat.
In an interview detailed by ClickOrlando, Gonzalez said, "There is great excitement, absolutely, because we were all surprised, happily surprised." He articulated a sense of national pride, with Pope Leo being viewed as "one of our own" and a potential blessing for the church in America. Similarly, attendees at St. James and Catholics around the globe are hopeful that the new pope's American upbringing will lead to unity within the church and a strengthening of their vocational awareness culture.
Meanwhile, during his first Mass in Vatican City, Pope Leo XIV extended wishes for peace across conflict-ridden regions of the globe. He embraced the role of mothers everywhere with a blessing on their special day. The message resonated with Father Gonzalez, who, according to a statement obtained by My News 13, anticipates Pope Leo's tenure to align with that of his predecessor, centering on bringing joy through the figure of Jesus Christ.
