PHILADELPHIA —
Reverend Paul Galetto says there has been a swell of enthusiasm for Pope Leo XIV across the greater Philadelphia region since his election.
“The people love having somebody who better relates to them and understands them,” the leader of St. Paul Parish in the heart of South Philly told CNN this week.
So, Galetto was delighted to learn that the first American pope would be speaking live and receiving an award less than two miles from his church, on the eve of the nation’s 250th birthday. A perfect fit, he argues, for this moment in the United States.
“I’m glad that the committee had the courage to select Pope Leo for the award, because if there’s anybody that wants to speak about freedom, it is he,” said Galetto.
