News of the new pope drew crowds of Minnesota Catholics to the Cathedral of Saint Paul. 

“Thank you God, this is a great day,” said Jeanne Buckeye of St. Paul, while walking into mass on Cathedral Hill.

The Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis says the cathedral welcomed between five and six times the number of worshipers  during a normal daily mass on Thursday.

“I got in the car and drove here,” said worshipper Jean Houghton.

It was pure joy as Chicago native Pope Leo XIV was elected as the new pontiff.

“This is my first conclave I’ve been through as a Catholic. It’s all new to me. It’s pure excitement,” said John May.

The first American pope also has strong ties to Peru. 

“Oh my God, it was amazing just to hear him send a special salutation for all the Peruvian people,” said Maria Rugel, of Cottage Grove.

Rugel says it gives her another reason to feel connected to the new leader of the Catholic Church. She spoke with her family in Peru all day Thursday as they share in celebration and pride for their new pope.

“The pope is part of both of us American people and the Peruvian people,” said Rugel. “So now we’re together in this area. Oh, my God, it’s very exciting.”

Local Catholic leadership are joining the excitement. Archbishop Hebda of the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis  celebrated at mass, as did his colleague from the Diocese of Duluth, Bishop Daniel J. Felton, who says the connection to America makes it even more special.

“I think that anytime that someone is selected from an area that is familiar not only to that person, to us there’s always rejoicing in that,” Felton said.

Statements were received from two other Minnesota-based bishops: Bishop Patrick M. Neary of the Diocese of Saint Cloud, and Bishop Chad W. Zielinski of the Diocese of New Ulm.

“I am so pleased that we have such a worthy successor to Pope Francis in Cardinal Prevost. There is hardly a more challenging or important role of leadership in our world,” Neary said. “May the Holy Spirit fill the heart of our newly appointed shepherd with wisdom and courage as he leads the Church. May he be a prophetic witness to the Gospel of unity, hope, peace and justice for peoples of every land and nation. May God grant him a long and fruitful tenure as the Successor of Peter.”

“I am filled with hope and anticipation for the future of the Church under his leadership. He will carry forward the missionary fervor that Pope Francis ignited, and I am eager to hear more from our newly elected Holy Father,” Zielinski said. “The faithful of the Diocese of New Ulm and I join the Universal Church in our prayers for Pope Leo XIV. His election as the first pope from the United States of America is a historic moment and a wonderful blessing for our nation.” 

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If you’re driving past the Cathedral of Saint Paul, there’s a new celebratory banner outside its front entrance.

Pope Leo XIV will be the new leader of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics.

A mass of Thanksgiving will be held May 14 at the Basilica of Saint Mary in Minneapolis.