'A prophetic appointment': Catholics in Alberta welcome selection of new Pope

Albertan members of the Catholic Church are among well over one billion Catholics welcoming the election of a new Pope.

The selection of Chicago-born Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, 69, as Pope Leo XIV on Thursday marks the first time a Catholic hailing from North America has held the title.

Diocese of Calgary Bishop William McGrattan met with Prevost on a number of occasions after the American cardinal's appointment as prefect for the Dicastery for Bishops in 2023.

"I found him to be very sensitive," said McGrattan, president of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, during a media availability in Edmonton. "A person who listens first before speaking."

McGrattan called the new Pope a "very quiet man" with a humble nature and a sense of justice, and whose lengthy experience as a missionary in Peru reflects the Catholic Church's international presence.

"I think his experience of working in the missions will bring that perspective, that the church is universal and the church needs to speak to all peoples of all countries," he said.

Having an American succeed Pope Francis, often called Pope of the Americas as the first pontiff to hail from Latin America, could be "a prophetic appointment," said McGrattan.

"I would hope that the people of America would be open to hear a voice of truth," said McGrattan, declining to delve into any possible political implications.

He added that while McGrattan doesn't appear to have any direct ties to Alberta, he has vacationed in Canada and is fond of the Rockies.

"He appreciates the nature of Canada and wouldn't be someone who wouldn't know the history, some of the culture and the diversity of Canada," said McGrattan.

According to Statistics Canada data from the 2021 census, Catholics are the largest religious denomination in Alberta, with the church's membership of over 830,000 making up nearly 20 per cent of the total population.

Father Paul Kavanagh of the Archdiocese of Edmonton echoed the sentiment that the election of a North American pope is incredibly significant.

"I know that for the Catholic community here in the archdiocese, this has been a very exciting morning," he said.

Kavanagh, who was at church for mass when white smoke billowed from a chimney atop the Sistine Chapel, was caught by surprise when the news was announced.