Pope Leo XIV emerges from St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City on May 8th, 2025 (Vatican Media)
GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — Deacon Nicholas Stellpflug from Combined Locks was in the piazza Thursday as white smoke rose above St. Peter’s Square, indicating a new pope had been elected.
The introduction of Pope Leo XIV came as Stellpflug prepares to return to Wisconsin for his own ordination mass in June, following four years of studying in Rome.
“Really, the moment that was so special is when the curtains opened for the first time, and hearing this announcement with great joy to us. ‘Habemus Papam’ — we have a Pope — that’s when the crowd erupts,” Stellpflug said. “It’s also a little bit hard to hear the name too, and a couple of us that heard it was Cardinal Prevost, which was also special for us because he celebrated our Thanksgiving mass this past year.”
Pope Leo’s Midwest ties, according to Stellpflug, are witness to how God works.
“Seeing him as a guy who grew up in the Midwest, born on the south side of Chicago, and now is the Holy Father. You see the story that God weaves in his life, through all these years, that’s led him to this place — and none of those moments are insignificant. Just in the same way for each of us, whatever God is going to call us to do with our life, there’s nothing that’s insignificant in that story,” added Stellpflug.
Right now, the Green Bay Catholic Diocese has two dozen men in various stages of vocation to the priesthood. That number is nearly double what it was just seven years ago.
While Catholics believe men are called to serve, having a Holy Father from the United States with Midwest ties could be a sign to some to answer their own call.
According to Fr. Mark Mleziva, vocation director for the Green Bay Catholic Diocese, “If the Lord can call a pope from the Midwest, perhaps he might call someone from here to hear the call to the priesthood and say yes to it. So, that’s maybe the biggest sense of joy to come from, ‘Okay why not me?’ because the Lord is the one who makes the call.”
Less than 48 hours since Pope Leo XIV was elected, it’s too early to tell how his papacy will impact the recruitment of priests. But it will surely be interesting to keep an eye on.
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