NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Across Middle Tennessee and around the globe, devoted Catholics are celebrating the election of Cardinal Robert Prevost, who took the name Leo XIV, as the first pope from the United States.

A Mass of Thanksgiving for the new pope was held at Cathedral of the Incarnation in Midtown Nashville on Friday, May 9, just one day after the cardinals elected him during their conclave in Vatican City.

"I'm elated," one parishioner at the West End Avenue cathedral told News 2.

That appears to be the sentiment for many Catholics around the world, especially in America.

"It's something I never thought would happen in my lifetime,” Aurelie Steve, another parishioner at the Cathedral of the Incarnation, said.  

The Chicago native shocked the world on Thursday, May 8 when he appeared on the loggia of St. Peter’s Square wearing the traditional red cape of the papacy, marking the first pope born in the U.S. in the 2,000-year history of the Catholic Church.

"I don’t know if American politics have anything to do with Leo XIV being elected, but it's been sort of a proverb of sort that there was never going to be an American pope," Cathedral of the Incarnation parishioner Truman Hill explained. 

Dozens of people attended Friday's special mass at the Cathedral of Incarnation with Bishop J. Mark Spalding of the Diocese of Nashville.

"This mass is being said by our bishop, Bishop Spalding, in thanksgiving for the new pope, so we're able to come and celebrate together as a family," Steve said.  

Steve said it was a priority to be at the church to celebrate Friday, sharing high hopes for Leo.

"We see a lot of division, as you can imagine, in the church these days, so somebody who can speak a lot of languages but is able to articulate to so many different groups of people might be able to help bridge that gap and bring the church back together again," Jospeh DiPaolo, another member of the cathedral parish, told News 2.

According to the Associated Press, Leo is set to formally meet with cardinals on Saturday, May 10; deliver his first noon blessing from the loggia on Sunday, May 11; attend an audience with the media on Monday, May 12. Then, he will be formally installed as the 267th pope of the Catholic Church at a mass on May 18 and preside over his first general audience on May 21.

News Source : https://www.wkrn.com/news/local-news/nashville/nashville-catholic-church-holds-mass-of-thanksgiving-for-pope-leo-xiv/