Archbishop Lori celebrates election of Pope Leo XIV

For Immediate Release:
May 8, 2025
Contact: Christian Kendzierski
Tel. 410-547-5378
christian.kendzierski@archbalt.org

Archbishop Lori celebrates election of Pope Leo XIV
Mass of Thanksgiving to be held at 5:30 p.m.

(Baltimore, MD) – Archbishop William E. Lori celebrated Thursday’s election of Pope Leo XIV, the first American-born pontiff. A Mass of Thanksgiving will be held at 5:30 p.m. at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen in Baltimore.

Archbishop Lori’s statement on Pope Leo XIV: “The news of the election of Pope Leo XIV has brought joy to the whole world. In a special way, it has brought joy to the Church in the United States. Our new Holy Father is the first to have been born in this country. A member of the Augustinian Order, he is true missionary, having spent many years ministering in Chiclayo, Peru. I was privileged to meet him on several occasions. He is prayerful, reflective, and a good listener, with a missionary heart. May God bless Pope Leo XIV as he leads and guides the Catholic Church throughout the world in the years ahead.”

Archbishop William E. Lori

Archbishop William E. Lori was installed as the 16th Archbishop of Baltimore May 16, 2012.

Prior to his appointment to Baltimore, Archbishop Lori served as Bishop of the Diocese of Bridgeport, Conn., from 2001 to 2012 and as Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Washington from 1995 to 2001.

A native of Louisville, Ky., Archbishop Lori holds a bachelor's degree from the Seminary of St. Pius X in Erlanger, Ky., a master's degree from Mount St. Mary's Seminary in Emmitsburg and a doctorate in sacred theology from The Catholic University of America. He was ordained to the priesthood for the Archdiocese of Washington in 1977.

In addition to his responsibilities in the Archdiocese of Baltimore, Archbishop Lori serves as Supreme Chaplain of the Knights of Columbus and is the former chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' Ad Hoc Committee for Religious Liberty.

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