During the papal conclave, Cardinal Robert Prevost was on the radar of people at Christ Our Savior Parish in South Holland because he was one of them.

“I had heard about him because we have parishioners here who went to school with him,” said Father Gosbert Rwezahura, pastor of Christ Our Savior.

Soon after Cardinal Prevost became Pope Leo XIV, the world knew about him too, and the parish phone started ringing and people began stopping by. They shared their joy over the news and asked questions about the new pope, who grew up in nearby Riverdale.

Pope Leo’s home parish was St. Mary of the Assumption, 310 E. 137th St. That parish merged with Queen of the Apostles Parish at 207 W. 145th St. in 2011 to form St. Mary of the Apostles Parish, and the St. Mary of the Assumption building was sold.

In 2019, St. Mary of the Apostles Parish merged with St. Jude the Apostle and Holy Ghost parishes to become Christ Our Savior Parish as part of the Renew My Church process.

While the calls and visits to the parish have tapered off, they haven’t stopped, Rwezahura said.

People often ask to see inside the church and ask if anything came from St. Mary of the Assumption. Rwezahura points to the tabernacle.

“The tabernacle has a connection with a church and with the pope too,” Rwezahura said. “Now, I don’t know if he was an altar server when he was a young man over there.”

People also have been asking Rwezahura how he feels having a pope from Chicago.

“I say not only from Chicago, but from our place, you know, from our parish. He’s one of us,” he said. “It is a blessing for all of us, for our parishioners and our parish,” he said.

Parishioners want to do something to celebrate Pope Leo XIV and let visitors know he’s from their parish, but plans aren’t firm right now. Reality is still setting in.

“Everybody wants the pope to visit their country, you know. But I hope he will come,” Rwezahura said. “Even if for a few minutes.”

Parishioners are still processing the news.

“It was pretty unbelievable, I think for everyone, that not only is he from the United States, but that he’s from right here,” said Linda Morgridge, who works in the office and was married in St. Mary of the Assumption Church. “I think it draws us all closer to God.”

Janis Taliaferro works as the office assistant and has answered many calls from people excited about Pope Leo’s election. The response from one group has encouraged her.

“I was really surprised because we’ve had calls from pastors outside the Catholic faith who’ve said they are very excited about it and they feel that he is a pope of all of the people,” said. “It’s kind of refreshing that people are embracing this new pope, not only as a Catholic pope but of all the people.”

She never thought there would be a pope from the United States.

“This is really a shock that it’s taking place,” Taliaferro said. “I’m glad it’s taking place while I’m still here to experience it.”

Rwezahura, who is originally from Tanzania, is encouraged by what he has learned about Pope Leo XIV.

“I like everything about this pope. I know each pope comes with his gifts and his talents,” he said. “You can see the way he walks and the way he does things. The way he communicates with the people. He’s very close to the people, which is a blessing. And, for the years he served in Peru — I mean, he has enough experience with difficult places.”

Rwezahura believes Pope Leo’s election will inspire faith in his hometown. Maybe it will bring young people into the church or bring back those who are away from the church, he said.

But he is sure about one thing, he said.

“Something will change in Chicago.”