For the first time in history, an American has been elected to lead the Roman Catholic Church. Pope Leo XIV, formerly Cardinal Robert Prevost, was named the 267th pope on May 8, 2025 — and his election is already stirring inspiration among a new generation of Catholics, including students at Southern Connecticut State University.
Sydney Crockett, a junior and president of the Newman Society at Southern, called the moment “astounding” in an interview with NBC Connecticut. The Newman Society is part of Southern’s Interfaith Center, which provides opportunities for spiritual development, reflection, and dialogue among students of all faith traditions.
“It’s a new era for the Catholic Church,” she said. “Being able to witness the white smoke and the announcement of a new pope—especially one from the U.S.—is something I’ll never forget.”
Both student leaders expressed excitement that the new pope hails from Chicago — a first for the Catholic Church. “The fact that Catholics from across the world came together and decided that an American should be pope is really powerful,” said Jack Abot, vice president of the Newman Society. “It has a lot of meaning.”
Watch the full stories on WTNH and NBC Connecticut.
