The school's students and staff expressed shock and excitement following the recent election of the first-ever American pope.

The new pontiff spoke to NBC News anchor Lester Holt, who was part of a news conference for some 6,000 journalists from around the world.

"I hope to be able to respond to [the challenges] with a healthy dialogue," said Cardinal Robert Prevost in 2023.

The first American pope arrives at a time of extraordinary complexity and tension in the church in the United States.

EDWARDSBURG, Mich. (WNDU) - With Pope Leo XIV making history as the first pope from the United States, his connections to Michiana continue to be uncovered. One of those ties goes back many years to the Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church in Edwardsburg, where he took part in the groundbreaking of the church just over a decade ago.

A plume of white smoke emerged from the Sistine Chapel chimney, signaling a new pope has been selected following Francis’ death.

Prevost, 69, took the name Leo XIV. He grew up in Dolton and attended St. Mary of the Assumption. A childhood friend said maybe now that he's pope, their old church will be reopened.

At a conclave with many new members, a swift, stunning consensus built around an unknown to many outside of the church.

Pope Leo XIV, the first U.S. pope, descends from Creole and free people of color in Louisiana, highlighting complex issues to race and class in American history.