Father Francis “Rocky” Hoffman joined NewsNation on Easter Sunday to discuss Pope Leo XIV’s first celebration of Easter as Pontiff.

As Fr. Rocky noted, Pope Leo is the first American pope in Church history, yet he is also one of the most internationally formed. Though he hails from Chicago, he spent more than thirty years living and serving outside the United States, including significant time in Rome and Peru. His multilingual abilities and global experience give him a uniquely broad perspective on the life of the Church.

Holy Week, Fr. Rocky explained, was especially full for the Holy Father. The schedule included two events on Palm Sunday, followed by the Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday, the Good Friday service, the Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday, and finally Easter Sunday Mass.

Throughout it all, the Pope’s message remained consistent. As Fr. Rocky observed, his focus is on leading people to Christ and proclaiming Jesus as the Prince of Peace, a theme that clearly resonates at the heart of his pontificate.

The global nature of the Church was especially visible on Easter Sunday, as more than 50,000 people gathered in St. Peter’s Square, many identifying their home countries through flags and signs. At the conclusion of Mass, Pope Leo delivered the Urbi et Orbi blessing, meaning “from the city to the world,” offering it in ten different languages.

Fr. Rocky pointed to this moment as a powerful example of the Pope’s ability to reach people across cultures and nations, as well as a reflection of the Church’s universality. He also noted encouraging signs of renewed engagement, particularly among young people, as the Holy Father continues to draw the faithful toward Christ.