Special Mass held to celebrate and pray for Pope Leo XIV

Celebrating Pope Leo I 14th, Philadelphia Catholics gathered at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul for the first mass since the new pontiff with local ties was named. It followed historic moments at the cysteine chapel this morning when the first Americanborn pope began his first mass speaking in English. It is Friday afternoon. I'm Sarah Bloomquest and I'm Christy Alto. The big story on Action News is the first full day for the first American pope. Cardinal Robert Francis Pvost. The Chicago native with a degree from Villanova University is now Pope Leo I 14th. And today he gave a nod to his home country delivering his first homaly partly in English. Through the ministry of Peter, you have called me to carry that cross and to be blessed with that mission. Pope Leo I 14th was greeted with a round of applause by fellow cardinals as he entered that mass this morning. A strong show of support for the new leader of the world's roughly 1.4 billion Catholics. And the election of an American pope has brought a great sense of pride right here at home. Action News reporter Sherifa Jackson is live at Villanova University with that part of the story. Sherifa. Yeah, Christy. Sarah talking to people on campus even today is not as many people because they're do have finals and exams but so many different emotions so much excitement and pride as you said because this is a historic moment and people celebrated and honored the pope all across the Delaware Valley today. It may be the last day of finals for students at Villanova. Everyone is just like so excited. It's like I still personally can't even believe it. It's just like I don't know. It's like hard to like comprehend. But the campus is still buzzing with pride after Villanova alumnist Pope Leo I 14th was named the new pontis. Realistically, there's a chance that he might come to Villanova at some point and that would be that would be really cool to meet the Pope. We are forever changed because of this moment. Um, and who knows what it even means for us. And across the Delaware Valley, special masses were held to honor the first American Pope. This was the scene in Center City at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Peter and Paul for noon mass. The pews packed with people. Archbishop Nelson Perez even getting personal. We will all remember really where we were when it was announced who he was. Stepping down from the pull pit and into the crowd as he celebrated the newly elected pontiff and most of all prayed for him. You could tell he was speaking the words that everybody was thinking. You know, just kind of felt encouraging. Yeah, it felt encouraging. I have to be here to support this prayer for our pope. Rebecca Rose says what happened was a miracle and she believes Pope Leo the 14th will lead the church in the right direction and they realized that you know he had the soul, the heart, the humility, he had everything that it took. So um they made a good decision. Yeah. And part of the prayer today during mass what that is that the pope would have a long reign. I also spoke to plenty of people today who are excited and also hopeful that he will visit the Philadelphia area soon. We're live from Villanova, Sherifa Jackson, Channel 6 Action News. Christie, that would sure be a homecoming indeed. Sharifa, thank you.