Students at Bishop Verot Catholic High School are looking forward to having the first-ever American pope.
Austin Gunn, a student at Bishop Verot High School, said this news brings hope to Americans seeking to one day be in the Vatican.
"It's insane because it's such like a different thing from what everybody's used to, and it kind of opens up a new chapter of stuff for like, just other people from America to see that some cardinals or bishops could end up there too," Gunn said.
Gunn's sister, Riley Gunn, is also a student at the private school and said she believes this may help bring more people to the Catholic Church.
"I think it's definitely a new thing for the world, and it's going to be a big way to get more Americans into the catholic church, seeing someone from their own country coming in and changing the world," she said.
GulfCoast News got to speak with Pope Leo XIV's brother, Louis Prevost , who lives in Charlotte County. He said he was shocked.
"I just like on pins and needles. What do I do? How am I supposed to act? Do I have to be holy because my brother's the pope?" said the brother of the pontiff.
Austin Gunn said it's pretty interesting having connections to people with big titles here in the Gulf Coast.
"It's just such an interesting feeling knowing that there's like some part of them that's connected to here," the young Catholic said.
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