Pope Leo XIV appears on the central loggia of St. Peter's Basilica after being chosen the 267th pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church, at the Vatican, Thursday, May 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

PARKERSBURG — A local priest said the selection of Pope Leo XIV was part of a tradition where a new pope is always chosen who will deal with the issues facing both the church and the people of the world.

Father John Rice of St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Parkersburg said the first two words that came to him on hearing of the election of Pope Leo XIV (Cardinal Robert Prevost) were “surprise” and “elation.”

“I don’t know of anyone who had him on their radar,” Rice said. “One of the things we believed going into this, and his election kind of proves this, is the Holy Spirit gives us the pope for our times.”

Prevost was born in Chicago, making him the first American-born pope, and was someone who spent a lot of time doing missionary work and as a church leader in Peru.

Looking at the qualifications and service of Prevost, Rice said Pope Leo XIV is a person who is well equipped to deal with the issues facing the modern world.

“I think we were all elated that his first words were ‘Peace be with you’ in dealing with all of the conflict in the world and seeing what we need to do to bring peace and how we can address our modern problems,” he said.

Many people felt that an American-born pope would be a long shot because of the United States’ political and economic power within the world.

“The general sentiment is that America is a superpower…and (many did not) feel they should consolidate and give spiritual power to the Americans as well,” Rice said. “However, Pope Leo spent so many years as a missionary in Peru that he brings that pastoral heart to the people wherever they are.”

Pope Leo XIV recently was the head of the Congregation for Bishops (also known as the Dicastery for Bishops which is in charge of reviewing nominations of bishops around the world) so he got to know a lot of people involved with the administration of the church as well as the leaders of the church throughout the world, Rice said.

The new pope also has a doctorate in canon law so he will be “someone who can articulate very succinctly and directly.”

“He is used to speaking and thinking as a lawyer, which brings a different kind of advantage as well,” Rice said. “All of those things have nothing to do with being an American. It just so happens that he was born in Chicago.

“He has been a faithful servant of the church for many decades.”

Prevost was not as well known to many people around the world so Rice feels a lot of people will see how the pope interacts with others and where his priorities will be.

The one question Rice said people aren’t asking is why the pope chose the name of Leo XIV?

“Leo XIII was pope from the 1870s to the early 1900s and wrote a famous encyclical Rerum novarum (in 1891) about social justice in the modern world and how workers were treated,” Rice said. “I think that is a little bit of an introduction to where Pope Leo the 14th wants to lead us by looking at the work of Leo XIII and the previous Leos.”

Leo XIII’s writings were very important to many within the United States with the emergence of labor movements and unions with finding just wages and reasonable working hours for workers as well as the implementation of child labor laws, Rice said.

“I think the name of Pope Leo XIV might be a clue to what this man might accomplish as a pope,” Rice said.

He felt the pope’s first speech was “spectacular” in talking about looking for peace within the world and peace within individuals.

“There was an emphasis on journeying together and walking together ‘hand in hand’ no matter who you are or where you are he is going to be carrying that part of Francis’ papacy as we move forward,” Rice said.

In Ohio, a number of churches throughout the Diocese of Steubenville rang their bells upon the announcement of the new pope, as is customary, and decorated their doors with celebratory gold and white bunting, according to a statement from the diocese.

“We pledge our prayers in support of His Holiness, Pope Leo XIV, in communion with him and with all who look to the Successor of St. Peter, the Vicar of Christ, as the visible head of the pilgrim Church on Earth,” Bishop Edward M. Lohse said in the release. “In this joyful Easter season, as we continue to celebrate Christ’s triumph over sin and death, may God pour forth his blessing upon Pope Leo XIV. May the Holy Father be strengthened and supported by our prayers.”

City Editor Evan Bevins contributed to this story.

Brett Dunlap can be reached at bdunlap@newsandsentinel.com