Newly elected Pope Leo XIV appears at the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Thursday, May 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

With Robert Prevost named Thursday as the new pope, local and state officials are reacting to the first American-born pope in the history of the Catholic Church.

Prevost, 69, is a Chicago-born missionary who spent his career ministering in Peru and took over the Vatican’s powerful office of bishops.

Prevost is a member of the Augustinian religious order and took the name Leo XIV.

Bishop David Bonnar of the Diocese of Youngstown said that as bishop, he will celebrate a Mass at 7 p.m. Monday at St. Columba Cathedral to pray for the new pope. He said he is inviting not only our clergy, religious and faithful but religious leaders and people of all faiths to join “as we celebrate and offer prayers for Pope Leo XIV.”

In addition, Bonnar will lead an evening prayer service at 5 p.m. Wednesday in Immaculate Conception Church in Ravenna for all who work for the church, namely clergy, religious, faithful, and diocesan and church employees throughout the diocese who are integral to the mission of the church.

“Once again, the Holy Spirit has descended upon the church with the election of a new pontiff, American Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost. The Church of Youngstown celebrates with gratitude, joy and hope the election of Pope Leo XIV. We pledge our prayers and support to our new shepherd,” Bonnar said. He said Prevost’s election coincides with this weekend’s observance of Good Shepherd Sunday.

“May Pope Leo XIV be a Good Shepherd who leads, feeds, and protects with the heart of Jesus. May his leadership be strong, his influence extend wide, and his voice be heeded by all. May this moment be a grace-filled time of unity for the Church and the world,” Bonnar said.

Gov. Mike DeWine said he and Fran are joyous about the selection Thursday of the new Pope.

“As a member of the Augustinian order, he has lived a life of service, building communities through the commandment of loving our neighbors. Through his work as a teacher and missionary, he has been committed to spreading the Gospel by helping the poor, migrants, and the least among us. His background as a parish priest and as a missionary tells us that he will be a Pope who will work hard to stay in touch with people of all backgrounds around the world,” DeWine said.

Ward Fitzgerald, president of the Papal Foundation, which is a charitable organization in the United States that is exclusively dedicated to fulfilling the requests of the Holy Father, said he joins Catholics around the world in celebrating the election of our new Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV.