In TV interviews, Bishop shares insights on newly elected Pope Leo XIV
May 9, 2025 at 2:37 p.m.
UPDATED
Not long after Pope Leo XIV was elected to the papacy, Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., was invited by several cable news outlets to offer commentary on the conclave process and the first American pope ever elected in the Church.
View the Bishop's interviews with NewsNation at https://www.youtube.com/trentondiocese.
Bishop O’Connell spoke on air May 9 with Wolf Blitzer, co-anchor of CNN’s The Situation Room. The Bishop fielded questions and offered his observations on the direction that the Holy Father may take the Church; the reason for the Holy Father’s choosing the name Leo and what it says about his priorities, and political challenges the Holy Father is likely to encounter in his papacy, namely the immigration issue and his being the first pope from the United States to be elected.
Bishop O’Connell pointed to the possible influence that the Holy Father’s identity and background as a religious order might have in his new role. “Anyone who is a religious, bring with them the charism and the spirit of their order to their position,” Bishop O’Connell said, who is, himself, a religious order bishop. “Pope Francis did that as a Jesuit and now Pope Leo will do that as an Augustinian.”
Bishop O’Connell added that he found the Holy Father’s first message to the world to be “very comforting and consoling.”
“He was offering to the world peace, and he was asking the world to be welcoming and loving toward everyone. I think that’s a very good message; that’s a good way to start,” said the Bishop.
In one of several interviews the Bishop O’Connell did with NewsNation since the papal election, he spoke with host Connell McShane, explaining what the faithful might anticipate about the new pope’s charism of faith as one of the Augustinian order. Noting that the order was named for St. Augustine of Hippo, the Bishop said, “It was an important order in the Church which emphasizes peace, fellowship, community and a charism of education.”
When McShane pointed out the short length of the conclave which decided upon Cardinal Prevost as Pope, the Bishop admitted candidly, “I was very, very surprised.” He added, “Given the work I have done during the course of my priesthood, I have known almost every single American cardinal, but Cardinal Prevost was one I had never met.”
Screenshot from Bishop O'Connell's interview with CNNThe Bishop noted that so many watching the deliberations did not think the cardinal from Chicago had a chance “because America is such a superpower … [but] he has dual citizenship [U.S. and Peru], was a great missionary … he’s been superior of his order, he’s a canon lawyer, he taught in the seminary, was a judicial vicar in the diocese, and was close to Pope Francis.”
When the subject of favorite sports teams came up, Bishop O’Connell pointed out that unlike Pope Leo’s long-time affinity for the Chicago White Sox, the Bishop is, was and always has been a fan of the Philadelphia Phillies. Turning back to a more serious topic, the Bishop referred to the papacy as “a tough job, and it takes a lot out of you. I don’t know who would want it,” the Bishop said as the host smiled. “My hand is not raised for that job.”
Yet another journalist with NewsNation, Laura Ingle, interviewed Bishop O’Connell on possible Church reform and how the new pope might weigh in on that issue. The Bishop responded, “The very first words he spoke from the loggia were ‘Peace be with you,’ the first words Jesus spoke after his Resurrection… in a sense, I think it sets an agenda … that he is seeking peace and will do everything he can to promote peace in the world.”
The Bishop agreed that Pope Leo’s upbringing in the Chicago area may indeed be an influence on his ministry but reminded the host that fully half of his ministry was exercised while he was in Peru.
“I am very excited to hear and see what will happen as he leads us in the Church,” Bishop O’Connell said.
Watch Bishop's interview below.
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UPDATED
Not long after Pope Leo XIV was elected to the papacy, Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., was invited by several cable news outlets to offer commentary on the conclave process and the first American pope ever elected in the Church.
View the Bishop's interviews with NewsNation at https://www.youtube.com/trentondiocese.
Bishop O’Connell spoke on air May 9 with Wolf Blitzer, co-anchor of CNN’s The Situation Room. The Bishop fielded questions and offered his observations on the direction that the Holy Father may take the Church; the reason for the Holy Father’s choosing the name Leo and what it says about his priorities, and political challenges the Holy Father is likely to encounter in his papacy, namely the immigration issue and his being the first pope from the United States to be elected.
Bishop O’Connell pointed to the possible influence that the Holy Father’s identity and background as a religious order might have in his new role. “Anyone who is a religious, bring with them the charism and the spirit of their order to their position,” Bishop O’Connell said, who is, himself, a religious order bishop. “Pope Francis did that as a Jesuit and now Pope Leo will do that as an Augustinian.”
Bishop O’Connell added that he found the Holy Father’s first message to the world to be “very comforting and consoling.”
“He was offering to the world peace, and he was asking the world to be welcoming and loving toward everyone. I think that’s a very good message; that’s a good way to start,” said the Bishop.
In one of several interviews the Bishop O’Connell did with NewsNation since the papal election, he spoke with host Connell McShane, explaining what the faithful might anticipate about the new pope’s charism of faith as one of the Augustinian order. Noting that the order was named for St. Augustine of Hippo, the Bishop said, “It was an important order in the Church which emphasizes peace, fellowship, community and a charism of education.”
When McShane pointed out the short length of the conclave which decided upon Cardinal Prevost as Pope, the Bishop admitted candidly, “I was very, very surprised.” He added, “Given the work I have done during the course of my priesthood, I have known almost every single American cardinal, but Cardinal Prevost was one I had never met.”
Screenshot from Bishop O'Connell's interview with CNNThe Bishop noted that so many watching the deliberations did not think the cardinal from Chicago had a chance “because America is such a superpower … [but] he has dual citizenship [U.S. and Peru], was a great missionary … he’s been superior of his order, he’s a canon lawyer, he taught in the seminary, was a judicial vicar in the diocese, and was close to Pope Francis.”
When the subject of favorite sports teams came up, Bishop O’Connell pointed out that unlike Pope Leo’s long-time affinity for the Chicago White Sox, the Bishop is, was and always has been a fan of the Philadelphia Phillies. Turning back to a more serious topic, the Bishop referred to the papacy as “a tough job, and it takes a lot out of you. I don’t know who would want it,” the Bishop said as the host smiled. “My hand is not raised for that job.”
Yet another journalist with NewsNation, Laura Ingle, interviewed Bishop O’Connell on possible Church reform and how the new pope might weigh in on that issue. The Bishop responded, “The very first words he spoke from the loggia were ‘Peace be with you,’ the first words Jesus spoke after his Resurrection… in a sense, I think it sets an agenda … that he is seeking peace and will do everything he can to promote peace in the world.”
The Bishop agreed that Pope Leo’s upbringing in the Chicago area may indeed be an influence on his ministry but reminded the host that fully half of his ministry was exercised while he was in Peru.
“I am very excited to hear and see what will happen as he leads us in the Church,” Bishop O’Connell said.
Watch Bishop's interview below.