| | | | | | Pope Leo XIV is Chosen:
A Historic Moment for the Catholic Church
First Pope from North America
The resilience of the papacy reaffirms the enduring influence of the Catholic Church and the powerful symbolism of its leadership.
St. Thomas More School in San Francisco joins more than 1.4 billion Catholics and the world's faithful to welcome and congratulate Pope Leo XIV. Chicago-born, His Holiness is the first American pope and a member of the Order of St. Augustine.
The words "Habemus Papam!"—"We have a pope!" were declared from the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica, as is tradition, on Thursday, May 8, 2025. With Pope Leo XIV as the new pope, the Catholic Church renews a sense of mission and direction, "to build bridges," as he declared to the faithful crowd.
For all Catholics and Catholic institutions, especially Catholic schools, the new papacy symbolizes hope, renewal and unity for Catholics worldwide. Pope Leo XIV sought to continue the blessing the late Pope Francis gave on Easter Sunday, the day before he died, "Allow me to continue that same blessing: God loves everyone; evil will not prevail," the new pontiff said. "We are all in the hands of God. So, without fear, united hand and hand with God and among ourselves, we go forward."
No stranger to Catholic education, for 10 years Pope Leo XIV ran the Augustinian seminary in Trujillo, Peru, was a seminary teacher who taught canon law and was prefect of studies.
For the last two years, he was head of the Vatican's Dicastery for Bishops under Pope Francis, with the responsibility of advising the pope on selecting new bishops around the world.
Together, fortified with the strength of hope, let us thank God for our new spiritual leader, Pope Leo XIV. We pray for his courageous leadership, caring ministry and divine guidance to shepherd the Catholic Church and advance the mission of Catholic education
May God Bless Pope Leo XIV and you all!
David Greenbaum (Mr. G.)
Principal
St. Thomas More
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