Decatur Catholic schools excited by Illinois native Pope Leo XIV From the Reaction around the U.S. to the first American pope series VALERIE WELLS May 8, 2025 May 8, 2025 Updated Jun 15, 2025 Students at Our Lady of Lourdes School watch the first speech by Pope Leo XIV. PROVIDED PHOTO Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save VALERIE WELLS DECATUR — St. Patrick student Madison Davis was the first to notice the white smoke.kAm“xVG6 925 WE96 =:G6 DEC62>X @? :? >J 9@>6C@@> @? E96 $>2CEq@2C5 D:?46 J6DE6C52J[” D2:5 qC:EE?6J {2?42DE6C[ 2 E62496C 2E $E] !2EC:4< $49@@=]k^Am Students at St. Patrick School watched the first speech of the new pope. PROVIDED PHOTO kAm%96 DEF56?ED[ {2?42DE6C D2:5[ H6C6 H2E49:?8 D@>6 D628F==D H9@ H6C6 H2=<:?8 2C@F?5 ?62C E96 D>@<6DE24< 2?5 ?@E A2J:?8 2EE6?E:@? E@ E96 D>@<6DE24< :ED6=7 F?E:= D6G6?E9 8C256C |25:D@? ?@E:465 E96 H9:E6 D>@<6[ EC25:E:@?2==J E96 D:8?2= E92E E96 42C5:?2=D :? E96 4@?4=2G6 92G6 6=64E65 2 ?6H A@A6[ 2?5 2=6CE65 E96 C6DE @7 E96 4=2DD]k^Am kAm%96 ?6H A@A6[ H9@ H:== 36 <?@H? 2D {6@ )x'[ :D 2 r9:428@ ?2E:G6 2?5 $E] !2EC:4< !C:?4:A2= p>J *FD<@ ;@<65 E92E D96 9@A6D E92E >62?D 96VD 2 rF3D 72?]k^Am People are also reading… Grant funding approved to promote Lake Geneva Pride Weekend Trump safe after being rushed from White House correspondents dinner; shooter in custody Lake Geneva school districts name teachers of the year 'Modzilla' to strike the Fontana-on-Geneva Lake area 12 potential candidates to become Wisconsin athletic director Driver arrested after pedestrian, 68, dies in Middleton crash Lake Geneva approves contract with communications firm Walworth County to conduct vegetation management this spring Cheese shop owner following in family’s 100-year tradition Sandra L. Malecki Trumps tell ABC to 'take a stand' on Kimmel after 'hateful' joke Fire Department rescues boy from inside a claw machine New COVID subvariant 'cicada' is on the rise. Here's what you need to know Former RUSD janitor sentenced in child pornography case 7 things we learned from Wisconsin football's spring practices kAm$E6G6 $>:E9 2?5 v2CJ sFC3:?[ >6>36CD @7 E96 r@F?4:= dff z?:89ED @7 r@=F>3FD :? s642EFC[ H6C6 92AAJ E@ 962C E96 ?6HD 23@FE E96 ?6H A@A6] QxEVD E96 7:CDE p>6C:42? A@A6 @7 2== E96 46?EFC:6D @7 E96 49FC49[Q $>:E9 D2:5]k^AmkAm(:E9 E96 CF>@C @7 E96 A@A6 36:?8 2 rF3VD 72?[ E96 ?6H A@?E:77 :D 6G6? >@C6 2AA62=:?8] !C6G@DE @?46 =:G65 @? E96 D@FE9D:56 @7 r9:428@] Qx H2D E9:?<:?8[ A=62D6 5@?VE 36 2 (9:E6 $@I 72?[Q sFC3:? D2:5 23@FE E96 @AA@D:?8 r9:428@\2C62 E62>]k^Am kAmrF3 72?D =:<6 $>:E9 2?5 v2CJ 92G6 2=C625J 368F? H:D97F= E9:?<:?8] Q!6@A=6 2C6 D2J:?8 >2J36 H6VC6 8@:?8 E@ H:? E96 (@C=5 $6C:6D ?@H E92E H6VG6 8@E E96 A@A6[Q sFC3:? D2:5]k^Am kAm“(6 H6C6 :? E96 C@@> ?6IE E@ W{2?42DE6CVDX[” D2:5 #@D2=:?5 |2CE:?[ 2 D:IE9 8C256C] “p <:5 J6==65 @FE[ V%96 H9:E6 D>@<6 42>6 @FEPV”k^Am Sixth grader Rosalind Martin has already printed out a photo of Pope Leo XIV to hang in her locker at St. Patrick School. VALERIE WELLS, HERALD & REVIEW kAm“x 962C5 E96> D4C62>:?8 2?5 x C2? :? E96C6[” D2:5 {:2> {2?42DE6C[ 2=D@ 2 D:IE9 8C256C] “Ww:D 36:?8 7C@> r9:428@X :D 6G6? 4@@=6C] %JA:42==J[ E96JVC6 2== 7C@> #@>6[ D@ :EVD 4@@= E@ 92G6 @?6 E92EVD 7C@> 96C6]”k^Am kAm#@D2=:?5 92D 2=C625J AC:?E65 @FE 2 A9@E@ @7 E96 ?6H A@A6 2?5 >256 2 4@?DECF4E:@?\A2A6C 7C2>6 7@C :E[ D@ D96 42? 92?8 :E :? 96C =@4<6C]k^AmkAm$EF56?ED 2=C625J H6?E v@@8=:?8 E@ 7:?5 @FE 2== 23@FE E96 ?6H A@A6 2?5 7@F?5 E92E 96 92D 9:D @H? A286 @? (:<:A65:2[ D@ E96J 4@F=5 =62C? 23@FE 9:D 324<8C@F?5]k^Am Students at St. Patrick School watched the first speech of the new pope. PROVIDED PHOTO kAmpE ~FC {25J @7 {@FC56D[ C6=:8:@? 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Follow her on Twitter: @modgirlreporter In this Series Reaction around the U.S. to the first American pope Updated Oct 23, 2025 Neighbor recalls how kids 'played Mass' with the boy who would become pope Updated May 19, 2025 Nebraska priest was at Vatican to witness history: The first American pope Updated May 9, 2025 'Kind of surreal': Election of American pope causes joyful shock among local priests 14 updates Previous Next Locations Illinois Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. 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