Bishop John E. Keehner of the Diocese of Sioux City released a statement Thursday welcoming the selection of Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost as Pope Leo XIV, the new head of the Roman Catholic Church. Bishop Keehner says, “I am pleased to learn of the selection of Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost as Pope Leo XIV, who is a holy man who will lead us with strong faith and humility. We realize this was a monumental task for the cardinals to select the next Holy Father to lead the Church and we trust that they did so prayerfully with the guidance of the Holy Spirit. I ask the faithful of the Diocese of Sioux City to join me in praying for our new pope as he begins his role as Vicar of Christ, sharing the Gospel message.” The new pontiff was born and raised in Chicago, Ill. and is the first pope from the United States.
