DES MOINES, Iowa — Every weekday St. Ambrose Cathedral in Downtown Des Moines has a church service at noon. On Thursday, as people were walking in, there were whispers as to who their new leader would be.

About 45 minutes before that service, the news of white smoke at the Vatican came, signifying a new pope was decided. The church-goers of Des Moines were excited but carried on with church not knowing who their new leader was.

The priest of that service Rev. Ambrose Ladu Daniel said with a smile on his face, “what a great joy in the Catholic Church today. We have a pope.”

By the time they got out of the service, they were surprised to find out the new pope is American. Chicago native Robert Francis Prevost took the name Pope Leo XIV. Pope Leo was chosen just two days after a group of 133 cardinals gathered in conclave.

1.4 billion Catholics worldwide have a new leader and about 700,000 Catholics in Iowa get to now say their pope is American.

Many Iowans at this service in Des Moines were on their phones after the service trying to learn more. And even those part of the church found out just like us.

“Well, I didn’t actually see it live. Someone texted me, of course, who said there’s white smoke,” Father Christopher Anthony Pisut, a priest at St. Augustin Parish said. “I didn’t expect a result this fast. Most people didn’t, especially because the cardinals — there’s so many more of them and from so many places in the world. But they did have a week or two before the election to talk and discern what to do.”

“I have been praying for about eight days for a good selection, but it’s always been on my mind,” Barbara Cortesio, a scripture reader at St. Ambrose said. “We need a really good Holy Father in this world. And we loved Francis, but I think we’re going to really enjoy this new selection. And thanks be to God, he’s American.”

While it’s a time of celebration, it’s bittersweet still mourning Pope Francis. It didn’t take long to name a new leader.

“Well, it’s multi-stage because first people are sad. The pope dies, then there’s anticipation and it’s kind of anxious waiting, you know,” Pisut said. “And then they go into the conclave, and we don’t know how long it’s going to be. I figured it was going to be a while. I wasn’t even expecting anything today. And then people are just happy just to have a new pope. You know, something that’s repeated itself multiple times over the centuries.”

“I think we’re all very excited. I’m sure everyone is excited and probably many people are glued to the television and have been for several days,” Cortesio said. “We hated to lose our pope, but we know in the church that the Holy Spirit will guide us for a new selection, and he did.”

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