‘A blessing': US Catholics celebrate first American pope
Outside Manhattan's imposing St. Patrick's Cathedral, Ms Rosaria Vigorito, 66, said she could 'feel the excitement just in the few minutes I've been walking around.'
The Miami artist said she hoped Pope Leo, a 69-year-old from Chicago who spent much of his career in Peru, would be a reformist.
'I have one issue with the Catholic Church that I'm hoping they'll correct, and that is allowing women to become priests,' she said, a crucifix around her neck.
'I think Mary Magdalene was an important apostle. There was a press release issued by the Vatican years ago – they called her the apostle to the apostles.'
Crowds of faithful and journalists had gathered outside the church that first opened its doors in 1879, with hundreds of worshippers filing in to pray and light candles.
A news ticker outside the nearby Fox News building announced the shock news to passersby.
Mr Oscar Salvador, 45, a labourer from Mexico, said he hoped Pope Leo would be able to stem the tide of people leaving the church.
'I believe it is a blessing for the people of America,' he said.
'Hopefully, he will leave a good legacy... so that more people stay in Catholicism, since lately we have seen many people leave for other religious sects.'
'A bit surprised'
In Houston, the sprawling Texas city where more than a quarter of residents reportedly identify as Catholic, Ms Azul Montemayor said she was 'a bit surprised.'
'I was not expecting an American to be elected and I'm just hoping that he carries on (Pope) Francis's legacy of just being more inclusive, and I hope he doesn't get swayed by more conservative ideology that we're having in the United States right now under President Trump,' said the 29-year-old examinations officer.
Analyst Ciro Benitez, 41, told AFP that Pope Leo's multiculturalism was a sign 'that we can expand to different kinds of cultures, (and) I guess, to the world.'
In Washington, Peruvian diplomat Julio Aiana, 32, said 'we are happy that now we have a pope who is half Peruvian' – referring to the nationality Robert Francis Prevost acquired while ministering there years before becoming pope.
'I believe that the times are changing,' Mr Aiana said.
Reverend Monsignor W. Ronald Jameson, director of St. Matthews cathedral, told AFP Pope Leo 'was a friend of Pope Francis – and he has the ability to really listen and reflect on what was said, and to implement those various ideas he heard.'
Back in New York, worshipper Tim Anderson, 61, said Pope Leo's strength would lie in his languages – reportedly speaking English, Spanish, Italian, French and Portuguese – in addition to reading Latin and German.
'I'm still working on English so I think it's gonna be interesting in this day and age where there's so much craziness,' he laughed.
'Maybe he can bring back a little bit of what I remember as a child growing up a Roman Catholic – and how full the churches were back then.'
'Welcoming to everybody'?
Ms Vigorito said she wanted Leo 'to bring us together.'
She acknowledged the new pontiff would have a daunting task to 'do as much as (he) can as a religious leader, because we deal with a lot of secular politics and issues.'
'I would love the new pope to help, especially with conflicts in any way possible, like in Ukraine,' she said.
Mr Salvador said he was also hopeful Pope Leo 'can reconcile the countries that are at war and help them to reach peace so that we do not continue on this violent path that we are living on today.'
Having an American pope 'will help bring more people to the Catholic Church, and even those that have walked away – maybe they'll get reengaged,' added Ms Vigorito.
Ms Annie Elm from North Carolina paid tribute to Pope Francis, calling him 'wonderful' and praising his legacy.
'He loved everybody. He lived very modestly,' she said. 'He was very humble.'
Ms Elm also said she hoped Pope Leo would be 'very kind and caring – welcoming to everybody.' AFP
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Vogue Singapore
4 days ago
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We may sprinkle a few foreign words when ordering food or brandish our Singlish proudly in conversation, but to be functionally multilingual is a whole other playing field. Are we still multilingual? Yes. Are we functionally multilingual? Maybe not quite so Languages shape the way we view and interact with the world; it broadens perspectives and fosters connection. 'If you learn a language just to pass exams, even if you pass them with flying colours, you still won't be using it in your daily lives,' Tan notes. Instead of sharing an affinity for a language meant to foster connection to one's cultural heritage, many in turn begin to resent the language as well as the culture. It's not unlike how a humanities student may resent biology or calculus, although for the average person, knowing another language surely will come in handier than photosynthesis. For digital creator Sharlyn Seet, speaking Chinese poorly was the norm growing up. 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There's no denying the boom of Korean and Japanese in the younger generation, largely due to the rising popularity of their respective cultures. And there's no doubt this includes those who may have shuddered at the thought of a language exam when they were in school. As I relearnt Chinese, I started appreciating not just the people but the traditions, stories and values that shape our community Beyond an increased appreciation for her culture and heritage, Seet recognises the pragmatic value in having another language at her disposal. 'I see a clear return on investment, both in business and in everyday life.' If cultural capital is the end goal, having more is always better than having less, is it not? But as a working adult, Seet recognises the difficulties in carving out the time to sustain a consistent learning journey. 'As an adult, it really is about how much time you're willing to invest. Watch Chinese dramas, listen to music, travel or just try reading signs on the MRT,' she suggests. 'Small everyday moments can spark curiosity and build confidence over time.' Seet acknowledges the irony of her situation. 'My mother often pokes fun at me for paying money to relearn something I could've acquired growing up,' she shares. However, Seet knows that it was a journey she had to embark on to reach where she is now. 'She's not wrong, but I'm finally doing it on my own terms,' she proclaims contently. Besides being able to converse fluently without trepidation, Seet also cites the less conspicuous benefits she has come to reap. Understanding Chinese memes, unlocking a new arena of inside jokes, and catching subtle meanings in song lyrics—she has only just begun to tap into the wealth of riches that lies beneath the surface. Order your copy of the July/August 'Home' issue of Vogue Singapore online or pick it up on newsstands now.
