When the Conclave’s selected Robert Francis Cardinal Prevost as the 267th Bishop of Rome, Sister Patricia Mulderick, RSM, a Summit Hill native, couldn’t believe her ears.

Shocked, but obviously very happy, she recalled special moments as a missionary to Peru in the 1980s, where she was joined in service by now Pope Leo XIV.

“As a Sister of Mercy who has worked in Peru with the Augustinians for many years, and as one who embraces our charism of service to the poor, sick and uneducated, I couldn’t be happier that the Cardinals, in their wisdom, elected Roberto as Pope Leo XIV,” said Sister Patricia.

She is now in the Rio Grande Valley, Texas, where she works several days a week at a community organization called ARISE Adelante (a work sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy) as an immigration adjudicator for applications for citizenship.

When she met Roberto, she said his humility and concern for the poor made him a “much loved Bishop,” she said.

First heard the news

Sister works now with those in migrant camp in Reynosa, Mexico, because they can’t return to their countries for a variety of reasons (like death threats, etc.)

She was attending Mass at a migrant camp in Reynosa, Mexico, when a woman tapped her on the back and said “hay humo blanco” (there is white smoke). She said those attending Mass “prayed for whoever our new Pope would be and waited after to hear who it was.”

When the announcement revealed Cardinal Prevost as Pope Leo XIV, Sister was obviously thrilled of his selection. Sister related a woman at the Mass asked her, “Will he care about us? About those who live in poverty?” “I was so happy I could confidently say ‘Sí….yes he will,’” she said.

Worked with new pontiff

Sister spoke of her experience in Peru, where she worked in the same diocese as the new Pope, saying, “We were both in Chulucanas, Peru, and shared the experience of ministry among the people of Peru and we would see one another regularly.”

While they later lived in different areas of the country over the years they were there, Sister noted, “He holds the people of Peru in his heart, especially those of Chiclayo where he was a much loved Bishop.”

She recalled, “I myself arrived in Peru to the then Prelature (now diocese) of Chulucanas in 1984 and Pope Leo (then Padre Roberto or just Roberto to those of us who ministered in the diocese) arrived in 1985, I believe… we were quite young then!

“Although he was just about 30 years old then, he was appointed chancellor (with a degree in canon law) of the prelature.

“What I remember most about him was that he was low key… humble…easy to be with… a great listener with a good sense of humor… a positive person. At the Prelature, Bishop Juan McNabb, also from Chicago, OSAs lived in an old building that was like a mini hotel where all of us who worked up in the mountain parishes were welcome to stay and have our meals there whenever we came down. We would sit around in the evening and just chat about what was going on in our areas. Roberto was always attentive and interested. He was low key, but not at all low on care and compassion. He truly cares about the poor and the situations they endure, and also cares about causes that continue to create poverty and suffering in people.”

Pope responds

Sister said a true sign of Pope Leo “caring for so many,” came on Friday morning.

She explained, “One “detalle” or gesture to illustrate that...I wrote to him last night to congratulate him and tell him how happy I was….and he answered, thanking me this morning! As if he didn’t have a lot of more important things to do! And just like me I am sure there are many others…and that is the essence of Padre Roberto…Bob…Pope Leo XIV.”

Sister said she believes the new Pope “will not be as ‘extroverted’ as Pope Frances, but he will be as caring…and that is what matters.”

She recalled Pope Leo’s opening greeting from the balcony at the Vatican, saying his “God loves all” remark “signals his pastoral approach.”

Sister added, “Even his choice of name signals his concern for social justice and the rights of all to be valued for who they are and what they do. And now, as Sisters of Mercy of the Americas we have our Institute President, Sister Sue Sanders, and our Pope both hailing from Chicago! Go figure! God is blessing all of us in them.”

Background

Sister Patricia is a daughter of the late Thomas and Ann Mulderick of Summit Hill, whose mother was an active member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in that community, where the family worshipped.

She graduated from Marian Catholic High School, Hometown, in 1969, and attended Kutztown State College for two years before entering the Sisters of Mercy order in September 1971.

In 1984, she went to Peru where she ministered for 34 years. Incidentally, a close friend and fellow Marian classmate, Sister Ann Crampsie, has been a Sister of Mercy for over 50 years.

Sister Patricia has a brother Thomas and sister, Karen Vymazal.