Cardinal Robert Prevost OSA officially assumed the papacy as Pope Leo XIV on May 8th, 2025, and is the first American Pope in history. Born in Chicago in 1955, Prevost has strong connections to the Lincoln-Way area and even St. Mary Mokena.
“I was surprised!” says Fr. Dindo Billote, pastor of St. Mary. “The Holy Spirit proved all the pundits and predictions wrong, and we have our first American Pope! My hope is that this will spark a revival in the United States Catholic Church.”
Pope Leo XIV grew up near the Chicago border with the suburb of Dolton and was classmates and neighbors with some people who are now St. Mary Mokena parishioners, according to Fr. Billote.
As recently as August 2024, then-Cardinal Prevost visited St. Jude Parish in New Lenox where he gave a talk and celebrated Mass. During that same visit, he also stopped at Providence Catholic High School. Earlier in his ministry, he had served as the provincial Augustinian leader in the Midwest, a territory that includes Providence.
Deacon Kevin Plankinton of St. Mary met the future pontiff while discerning a vocation as an Augustinian brother in the early 2000s. Most notably, as Superior General of the Augustinian Order, he received Plankinton’s first vows in 2005.
“I met him at least twice during my time as an Augustinian, and I was surprised that he remembered me the second time,” recalls Plankinton. “He was well-regarded amongst the brothers and had a legendary status for his missionary work in Peru.”
Regarding the new Papacy, Deacon Plankinton urges everyone to give the Holy Father a chance before rushing to any judgments. “Read and listen to what he has to say directly and avoid trusting the media’s interpretation,” he says. “Most of all, pray for him and for the Church.
St. Mary is planning a special event to honor the election of Pope Leo XIV and to pray for his Papacy. More information will be released in the coming days.
The Mokena Marian 