By John Rohlf, The Message assistant editor
Last summer, Diocese of Evansville seminarian Nathan Folz went on The Rome Experience for his summer assignment, which led to a chance to meet Cardinal Robert Prevost, who is now Pope Leo XIV, the 267th pope in the history of the Catholic Church.
Folz was joined by 25-30 other seminarians from across the United States on the trip, which allowed him to see the city, experience the culture and see how the Catholic Church works. During the trip, Folz was able to meet with several of the heads of the dicasteries. The heads of the dicasteries would meet with the seminarians and explain the office and what their role is.
During one of these visits, Folz and his fellow American seminarians visited the Dicastery for Bishops and met with Pope Leo XIV when he was Cardinal Prevost. At that time, Cardinal Prevost served as prefect for the Dicastery of Bishops.
“He had agreed to come and talk to us, which was really cool already because he was a cardinal,” Folz said. “For about 30-45 minutes, he kind of explained what his office did and we were able to ask him questions just about whatever we wanted to talk about. And so it was a really cool experience. Obviously, we had no idea he would be pope… That wasn’t even on our radar.”
When he met with Pope Leo XIV, Folz was impressed with him. During their visit, Cardinal Prevost talked about how the Catholic Church is universal, meaning it is big enough to embrace everyone. Cardinal Prevost also talked about how unity in the Catholic Church is essential, Folz said.
Folz said during their meeting, Cardinal Prevost was asked what qualities he looks for in bishops. During the talk, Cardinal Prevost said ministers of the church can’t see themselves as protagonists, Folz recalled.
“That was really advice for us. I think that was helpful,” Folz said. “We can’t see ourselves as the hero because we’re not the savior, Jesus is. We’re kind of the vessels that he’s working through. And so we can’t make our ministry about us. It has to be about him and that was one of the things he looks for in bishops. So that’s something I’ve taken with me from that.”
Folz described former Cardinal Prevost as “very unassuming but kind of warm at the same time.” He was easy to talk to, Folz said.
For the election of Pope Leo XIV, Folz had the unique experience to be at St. Meinrad Seminary with other seminarians in the Diocese of Evansville and many other seminarians from other dioceses.
“Any room with a TV, there were seminarians just gathered around,” Folz said. “I think being there and seeing all of these men that are studying to be priests to really give their life to the church, it was just a unique situation to be with them. And then once he was announced, to see the joy that they had. It was really incredible.”
With Pope Leo XIV being the first American pope in the history of the Catholic Church, Folz has seen and heard an increased interest, both from Catholics and non-Catholics. With news from Pope Leo XIV’s brothers that he is a White Sox fan and that he plays Wordle, these are things Americans can relate to, Folz said. It makes the papacy not seem so distant and breaks down a barrier that may have been there before, he added.
Folz thinks the election of Pope Leo XIV does have the opportunity to spark interest, which he hopes will lead people to a curiosity about the church to look into in more or reinvestigate it.
“I’m really hopeful that it could have a big impact,” Folz said. “Because I think we’re in a moment where the church in America is already kind of really hitting its stride in a lot of ways. There’s so many good apostolates and work going on among the laity. And there’s just so much happening right now that hopefully this can be a catalyst to kind of continue that and to really capitalize on that.”