Peoria Catholic leaders react to selection of Chicagoan as pope: 'He's going to be a good bridge'

PEORIA – Father William Miller was celebrating Mass at Sacred Heart Catholic Church shortly after noon on Thursday when a server handed him a folded slip of paper.

It had the name of the new pope, Leo XIV, on it, enabling Miller to pray for the just-announced pontiff in the eucharistic prayer of that Mass. 

“It was probably the first time that happened in our area, because I think we’re the only noon Mass around,” Miller said.

Catholic priests had excluded the name of a pope in that prayer since Pope Francis died on April 21.