The appointment of the first-ever pope from the United States is being met with hope and optimism by members of the local Catholic community.
Pope Leo XIV, a 69-year-old former cardinal from the United States, was chosen to lead the Catholic Church, marking a historic shift for the centuries-old institution. Father Joe Lubrano of St. Joseph Church in Huntsville called the moment a turning point. He expressed excitement about the possibilities the new pope brings, especially given his background and the diversity of the U.S.
“He knows that there are different people with different ideas, and I think helping to build those bridges instead of building walls, and we have too many wall builders here lately, and I think we need more bridge builders,” Lubrano said…