The white smoke that billowed from the Sistine Chapel on May 8 signaled that that the worldwide Catholic Church was in store for a few firsts.
One, that the electors had chosen Chicago-born Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, OSA, – son of a World War II veteran and a librarian – as the first American pontiff. And two, that the now-Pope Leo XIV is a Villanova University graduate, Class of 1977.
In the Diocese of Camden, it’s the second first that Villanova-bound high school seniors reacted to the most. After all, they are about to step onto a campus that can now boast about the footsteps of someone with American roots like them.
“How cool it’s going to be to experience the same thing that someone who’s accomplished so much has experienced,” noted Gwen Amalfitano of Holy Spirit High School, Absecon. She will be a chemical engineering major next year at Villanova.
Pope Leo XIV “is someone I can relate to now, someone I’ll have shared experiences with,” after being on the university campus, she said. With that connection, “I’ll understand how he’s interacted with his faith and world.”
Amalfitano’s Holy Spirit classmate, Giavanna Rynkiewicz, will be majoring in criminology with a focus in pre-law at Villanova. She has been studying up on the papal Villanova graduate since his first appearance on the balcony of Saint Peter’s Basilica.
“He has inspired me to elevate my own faith, and made me think, ‘How far can I go with what I want to accomplish?’”
Natalya Slonis, a senior from Paul VI High School, Haddonfield, first heard the pope news as she was getting ready for another special moment. “I was on my way to getting my hair done for senior prom, so I was already really happy,” she said with a laugh.
“My mom called me, and I was so excited,” Slonis continued. “Then I got texts from so many people saying, ‘You’re going to the same school as the pope, how cool is that?’ I’m still in shock.”
Expressing hope for the future of the Catholic Church, she said, “I think [his appointment] will bring people my age to the faith. We now have a connection to this pope, and anything is possible.”
Grace Martin, from Camden Catholic High School, Cherry Hill, noted that Pope Leo’s humble Midwest beginnings is proof that “it doesn’t matter where you come from. When you’re called by God to do something important and make a difference, you have to put your faith in Him and follow that road.”
Martin, who plans to major in biochemistry at Villanova, said, “I’m taking inspiration from his journey.”
Also feeling motivated was Gloucester Catholic High School senior Damiano Paglione, a future biology major. “Pope Leo was once in the same position I was: ready to begin his freshman year at Villanova.”
“He’s inspired me to work harder. I’m also going to continue to learn about him and his good works,” Paglione said.
Sarah Weiss, from Our Lady of Mercy Academy, Newfield, found connections in Pope Leo’s college major, mathematics, and the one she plans to take next year, economics.
“We have the same mindset; we both like numbers,” she said with a laugh. His election “makes me feel like I can do anything, and inspires me to continue to connect to my faith at Villanova, whether that’s in the weekly Masses or elsewhere.”
She continued, “If I ever get the chance to meet him, I’d thank him for all that he’s done, and tell him how excited I am for what he’ll do in the future.”
Natalie Bachman, also from Our Lady of Mercy Academy, is pursuing a nursing degree next year. She is happy to know of an example in Rome, who like her, desires to heal.
“My faith has played a big role in who I want to be as a nurse, and how I want to put patients first and make service a priority,” she said. “Having him as a guide will be helpful.”
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