MARSHALL — Area residents were among the people around the world who were waiting to hear when a new pope was selected. For them, Thursday’s news that the new Pope, Leo XIV, had been chosen to lead the Catholic Church was a time for celebration – as well as for reflection and learning.

At Holy Redeemer Catholic School in Marshall, students took a break from class or recess to watch the news, said administrative assistant Sue Donner.

“Our kindergarten teacher Paula Dudgeon let the office know that we had the white smoke,” Donner said. White smoke from the chimney at the Sistine Chapel is the traditional signal that a new pope has been elected.

If they were able, students and teachers at Holy Redeemer stopped to watch the news, Donner said. “Some teachers were able to bring their laptops out to recess, so that the students could watch the newly elected pope step out on the balcony,” she said. Holy Redeemer also held an all-school prayer for the pope.

Marshall resident Barb Verly said she happened to catch the news on TV.

“I think I turned it on about five minutes after they had the white smoke,” Verly said. While the news was exciting, it was also unexpected that the new pope was born in the U.S., she said.

“People thought in our lifetime we’d never have an American pope,” Verly said.

“It certainly caught me off guard,” said Rev. Shawn Polman, a Cottonwood native who is pastor of the Spirit of Life Area Faith Community in the Madison and Ortonville area. Polman said he heard the news about the new pope on the radio, while driving back from Mass at a nursing home in Ortonville. By the time he reached his parish office, “The parish staff were all huddled around the TV,” he said.

Polman said staff decided to ring the church bells. “It was kind of a celebration,” he said.

In a statement Thursday, Bishop Chad Zielinski of the Diocese of New Ulm said the new pope’s selection was a cause for “great joy.”

“I truly believe the Holy Spirit guided the College of Cardinals in selecting the right man to lead the Church in the upcoming years,” Zielinski said.

Zielinski had a chance to meet the man who would become Pope Leo several years ago. He shared his impressions.

“Interestingly, in 2016, I met the new pontiff, then Bishop Robert Prevost, when I attended the same course for new bishops in Rome,” Zielinski said. “Out of the 120 bishops from mission dioceses worldwide, he and I were the only two Americans. I was serving the Diocese of Fairbanks in Northern Alaska, and he was just named a bishop for the Diocese of Chiclayo, Peru. I remember having discussions with him about the indigenous villages of his diocese.”

“He struck me as a kind-hearted, gentle, quiet man who truly had the heart of Christ the Good Shepherd. He had a deeply heartfelt concern for the poor and truly had the heart of a missionary priest,” Zielinski said. “I was most happy that Pope Francis appointed him a cardinal a few years ago, and then more recently to the Dicastery for Bishops, a department of the Roman Curia that oversees the selection and appointment of bishops.”

Verly and Polman said they wanted to know more about the new pope. Verly said it was interesting to know that Pope Leo was born in Chicago. Verly grew up in Flint, Michigan. “I feel connected that way,” she said. “I grew up in similar experiences.”

Polman said he thought having a pope who grew up in the U.S. might also help in sending messages to English-speaking Catholics.

Polman said he would continue to pray for the new pope. “I’m excited for what he’s going to bring to the future of the church,” he said.

“I am filled with hope and anticipation for the future of the Church under his leadership,” Zielinski said of Pope Leo. “He will carry forward the missionary fervor that Pope Francis ignited, and I am eager to hear more from our newly elected Holy Father.”