The election of Pope Leo XIV and death of Pope Francis caught the attention of most of the world in the spring of 2025. Events which captivated even those of other faith traditions was profoundly impactful, even life-changing, for the seminarians of SJV.
As the men at SJV united with the universal Church to pray for the repose of Pope Francis’ soul, seminarians studying abroad in Rome were immersed in their own experience from the Eternal City. Most were able to adjust their spring break schedules to attend Pope Francis’ funeral. After arriving to an already huge crowd at 4:30 AM, they found a spot right in front of St. Peter’s obelisk to pray.
Our seminarians were greatly moved by the immense number of pilgrims lined up to process to St. Mary Major and crowded on side streets to pay their respects to the late Holy Father. Some sources estimate they may have joined 250,000 others in attendance. “There were priests, bishops, cardinals, heads of state, random tourists, recent converts . . . It was the entire Catholic Church, and that was very beautiful for me to see,” described Samir Bhatt ’26 (Diocese of Lafayette-in-Indiana).
Reflecting on his enduring legacy, Benjamin Sundlie ’26 (Diocese of Duluth) was most moved by Pope Francis’ wish for the Church’s priests “to be shepherds with ‘the smell of the sheep.’” “He emphasized this throughout his papacy many times and desired it to be a reality for the Church’s priests,” Ben explained. Pope Francis’ care for the poor and marginalized was especially striking to Giovanni Gonzalez ’26 (Diocese of Joliet). “I think he’ll be remembered for his humility and his simplicity which you could just see in the way he conducted himself, the way he dressed himself, and even in his own funeral with his simple wood coffin.” Dominic Scott ’26 (Diocese of Lafayette-in-Indiana) was touched by the Pope’s role as the visible head of the Church and sign of unity for Catholics everywhere, saying “Pope Francis was our shepherd for twelve years — my whole adult life — and it was a blessing to be part of the Church’s farewell to him.”
Just 12 days after Pope Francis’ funeral, a new Bishop of Rome was named. The joy on campus was extraordinary, as President Rob Vischer noted in an email to St. Thomas faculty and staff: “Our St. Paul campus erupted in celebration on Thursday as Pope Leo XIV was announced. A packed viewing party at Scooter’s, our own Popemobile parade, and even white smoke emanating from a chimney built for the occasion above our SJV seminary marked a jubilant day in history.”
“The SJV seminarians became the face of St. Thomas throughout the Twin Cities and campus communities during this pivotal moment in the Church’s history,” remarked Dr. Michael Naughton, Director of the Center for Catholic Studies at St. Thomas. “Their energy, joy, and love for Christ were an invitation for everyone to participate in the election of a new pope. It was an evangelical moment, and it was fun.”
The festivities in St. Paul took place with equal joy to the celebration in St. Peter’s Square following “Habemus Papam.”
Thomas Nelson ’26 (Diocese of Lafayette-in-Indiana) was in St. Peter’s itself as the white smoke emerged from the chimney. “There was just this uproar of energy like, ‘We have a new pope!’ and I was able to rush in and be able to be there when Pope Leo XIV came out for the first time to address the people and give us his blessing,” he recalled. “My hope and my prayer is that with Pope Leo being everywhere—on the videos, on the metro, and people talking about him—it will bring hearts closer to Christ through His Church and through the Petrine ministry.”
The question Ethan Menning ’26 (Archdiocese of Omaha) began asking those he met in Rome was “What do you think of the first American pope?” In his own words, “Their answers are so good to hear. . . People are excited for an American pope. They tell [us] things like, ‘Ethan, you don’t know how good the American Church is. You’re doing so much on evangelization, so much on youth ministry. It’s so inspiring for the rest of the world.’”
Their experience of being seminarians from the United States during the conclave in Rome has opened many doors to conversation for our men. They are learning what it means for their whole lives to “breathe the fragrance of the Gospel,” to borrow an expression from Pope Leo.
This message flows seamlessly into Pope Leo XIV’s meditation for the Jubilee of Seminarians, delivered June 24: “You are saying ‘yes’ to Christ’s call, and doing so with humility and courage. Your ‘yes’ to Christ is maturing within the life of the Church, as you allow yourselves to be guided on the necessary path of discernment and formation.” Their “yes” to formation and, ultimately, to their vocations will forever be shaped from the experience of this historic moment for the Church and the world.
As Pope Leo XIV continues through his first year as Holy Father, we give thanks to God for the Petrine Office and the gift of apostolic succession through which Christ will continue to lead
His Church until the end of time.
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This article was originally published in the fall 2025 Vianney News magazine. Read more.