Oklahoma clergy reacts to historic election of Pope Leo XIV, a former Cascia Hall board member

The Catholic community in Oklahoma is celebrating the historic election of Pope Leo XIV, the first American and first Augustinian pope, who once served on the board of Cascia Hall Preparatory School in Tulsa.

RELATED: American Cardinal Robert Prevost chosen as new pope, Leo XIV, by Catholic Cardinals

Q&A with Father Philip C. Cook, OSA - Headmaster - Cascia Hall Preparatory School

What was your first reaction when you saw the news?

"Shocked, really quite shocked. Never expected it. And when he came out on the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica, it was really kind of unbelievable. It was kind of surreal and very emotional."

What was the process like waiting for the announcement?

"Yes, so thankfully the conclave didn't last that long in terms of our historical perspective. But what happened today was that the white smoke was seen and then there was a delay before they announced who it was that had actually been chosen. So that wait there for about 35 minutes or so was tense."

How surprising is this election?

"Yes, it's surprising in many ways. It's the first Augustinian, first member of our order to be elected pope. We've been around for over 700 years as a religious order. This is our first. So that's very surprising. And our first American pope in the history of the church, North American pope. So that is also surprising. And I think it speaks to the universality of the church and something about what the different spiritualities that make up the church can offer to the world, really."

Tell us about the pope’s connection to Cascia Hall.

"Yes. So Father Prevost, now His Holiness Pope Leo XIV, served as the regional superior for us Augustinians here in the middle part of the United States. So he was responsible for Cascia Hall and for the Augustinian station here. In that capacity as provincial, he served on our board of directors here at the school for three or four years. So he was down here frequently for meetings, fostering relationships with the community here in our school, visiting with students. It was quite a thing looking back on it now."

MORE ON THE POPE'S CONNECTION TO TULSA: Newly-elected pope once served as board member for Cascia Hall in Tulsa

What years did he serve in that role?

"So he was provincial and on our board of directors from 1999 to 2001, I believe."

What was it like seeing someone you know in the news?

"Yes, and every time in the news coverage of the Conclave, I would see him going into a meeting with the other cardinals, it was like, there he is, I know him, that was kind of the thing."

Did you have any idea he might be elected?

"I had no idea, no idea. His name didn't seem to surface on much of the speculation that preceded the election, but I'm very, very hopeful. He's a good man. He's got a good heart. He loves people. My experience of him is that he has a very pastoral heart, and I think he will be one that will continue the legacy of Pope Francis for the world."

What did you think about his first message from the balcony?

"And his first message from the balcony of St. Peter's was all about peace and how much we need that today."

That resonated with people locally too.

"Yes, yeah. I think that message of peace really resonated. And building understanding among peoples. I think we've become so divided in our culture, in our society, that efforts to kind of build that deeper understanding and connections with everybody, that we're all brothers and sisters to each other, is extremely important and something I think that the church might be able to foster for all of us."

What does this election mean for the future of the Catholic Church?

"Yes, he served for many, many years as a missionary down in Peru. And so I think that experience of working in a developing country, seeing poverty that we don't see necessarily here in the United States and experiencing that, plus his administrative background as a bishop and a religious superior, I think combines to position him well to carry out the work of the church with an eye toward everyone—not just in the areas where we have a traditional presence."

How did the students at Cascia Hall react?

"The reaction was kind of crazy. The kids, they were, some of them were yelling 'Viva La Papa' in the hallways. Some of them were chanting 'USA, USA' for our American pope, but a lot of energy because of the connection. It suddenly made real for them that it's not just some distant figure in a foreign country, you know, that we hear a name. It's someone who has an actual experience of Cascia Hall, who knows Cascia Hall, who knows people here in our community. That makes it much more real, I think."

A memorable day for the school?

"Yeah, yeah. It was the energy in the school today was pretty incredible. I don't know how much learning actually happened, but that's okay. Some days are for celebration."

Pope Leo XIV emerges from balcony, delivers first public remarks as pontiff