‘Filled with immense gratitude’ | Diocese of Knoxville welcomes in Pope Leo XIV

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) - On Thursday, Robert Prevost was elected as the next pope.

Prevost was born in Chicago and is the first US citizen to head up the Catholic Church. He was a missionary in Peru before taking over that diocese. Pope Francis then brought him to the Vatican in 2023 to lead the Dicastery of Bishops.

Previous Coverage: Robert Prevost, first pope from US in history of the Catholic Church, takes the name Leo XIV

The dicastery vets bishop nominations and investigates allegations of abuse. It oversees the 5,300 bishops around the world.

Prevost resided over one of the most revolutionary actions in the church, when three women were added to the dicastery for the first time. Earlier this year, Francis appointed him to the most senior rank of cardinals.

Prevost took the name Leo XIV. The last pope to take that name was in 1878 when Leo XIII took the church into a new age with its relationship on social stances.

The Diocese of Knoxville announced they were overjoyed to hear the news of his election.

“We are filled with immense gratitude to the Holy Spirit for guiding the College of Cardinals in selecting Pope Leo XIV to lead our Catholic Church. The faithful of East Tennessee join in prayer and thanksgiving for our new Holy Father.  Pope Leo XIV brings tremendous gifts to the Chair of St. Peter, and we look forward to his leadership as we continue to proclaim the Gospel message of Jesus Christ in East Tennessee and throughout the world.”