This month marks the one-year anniversary of the election of Cardinal Robert Prevost as Pope. It has been exciting following our very own American-born Pope through his first year – although what has most edified me is that Leo XIV has not allowed himself to be pigeonholed as an “American Pope.” He is a missionary who belongs first to the Lord and, for his sake, to the entire world.

The Diocese of Pueblo bishop, who recently submitted his resignation as required by the Catholic Church upon reaching the age of 75, entered the priesthood only after earning a master's degree in music and piano, teaching music at Fort Worth Community College, and managing a nursery company for 14 years.

I was struck by the pressures and anxieties experienced by young people today, and by the number of times the speakers tried to convince them to believe in God’s personal, unconditional love. I started to wonder why this message was being repeated with such insistence. It seemed a little cheesy. Doesn’t God’s love go without saying?