What's Happening

May 28, 2025, Adrian, Michigan – Like many other people throughout the world, Adrian Dominican Sisters expressed joy, hope, and a sense of connection after the election on May 8, 2025, of Pope Leo XIV, a native of Chicago and the first U.S.-born pope. He has ministered largely in Peru and has dual U.S.-Peruvian citizenship.

Sister Xiomara Méndez-Hernández, Executive Director of the Dominican Sisters Conference (DSC), an organization of U.S.-based congregations of Dominican Sisters, happened to be in Rome during the conclave of Cardinals who elected the pope. 

“It was truly a remarkable experience for me to be in Rome during the election of Pope Leo XIV,” wrote Sister Xiomara. “Receiving his blessing in person at St. Peter’s Square was such a special moment.” She said the election of the Augustinian also “deeply resonates with our Dominican Order’s spirituality, especially as we follow the Rule of St. Augustine, just like the Augustinians.”

Sister Xiomara also has a special connection to Pope Leo XIV: both are graduates of Catholic Theological Union (CTU) in Chicago. She said the name of Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, now Pope Leo XIV, sounded familiar. “Later that night, I reached out to an Augustinian friend and classmate from CTU who immediately confirmed my suspicion. It was indeed the same Bishop Robert Francis Prevost who came from Peru to preside over [her friend’s] ordination nine years ago.” She added that she had been impressed at the time by his “gentle presence, simplicity, and his ever-present smile.”

A native of the Dominican Republic, Sister Xiomara noted that “hearing him ask for permission to speak in Spanish brought me immense joy. His call for peace, justice, unity, and love has truly renewed my hope, not only for the Church but for the entire world.”

Some 4,765 miles away, several Adrian Dominican Sisters and Co-workers gathered in the lobby of the Dominican Life Center at the Motherhouse in Adrian to await the revelation of the new pope. They also responded to this revelation with great joy.

Sister Linda Bevilacqua, OP, who attended this watch party, found the election of a cardinal from the United States to be “very exciting and extraordinarily surprising.” She described Pope Leo XIV as a “highly educated Friar … a global citizen, having traveled broadly, linguistically gifted … a missionary to the core, a citizen of the U.S. and Peru and a proponent of Pope Francis’ environmental agenda.”

Sister Linda also saw particular significance in his name. “The name he chose speaks clearly to the importance and relevance he has and will continue to place on Catholic social teaching.” Pope Leo XIII, in his 1891 encyclical (document) Rerum Novarum, is credited with beginning the modern tradition of Catholic social teaching by addressing the social issues arising from changes brought about by the Industrial Revolution. Some of the principles of Catholic social teaching include the dignity of the human person; call to family, community, and participation; option for the poor and vulnerable; the dignity of work; solidarity; and care for creation.
   
“I trust that our pope will guide and encourage us by his living, teaching, and preaching, so that, with our focused engagement, all persons will live in just and peaceful societies, and all creation will flourish,” Sister Linda concluded.

Some Sisters spoke to their connection to Pope Leo XIV through their own roots or involvement in Chicago. “Not only is he the first pope from the United States but also someone with whom I share common roots in Chicago,” Sister Mary Flan Fleischaker, OP, said. “In addition, Pope Leo XIV seems to have the heart of a shepherd and holds many of the same priorities as Pope Francis. All of this gives me great hope.”

In her response to the election of the pope, Sister Jean Tobin, OP, reflected on her own background in Chicago, growing up in a middle-class neighborhood where neighbors looked out for one another. She described a similar spirit in Pope Leo XIV. “I loved seeing him on that balcony, taking it all in and waving and accepting the love and joy emanating from the crowd,” she said. “I can also appreciate his missionary spirit, love of people, willingness to learn their languages and sense of justice.”

Perhaps one comment by Sister Mary Fran sums up the feelings of many of the Sisters and of many people throughout the world: “We have been given a surprising and timely gift in Leo XIV.” 
 

Caption for above feature photo: Sisters and Co-workers gather in the Dominican Life Center lobby to watch the announcement of the new pope.