CREVE COEUR, Mo. – People across the St. Louis area are celebrating the newly elected Pope Leo XIV.

One local Jesuit high school held a campus-wide prayer service to mark the occasion.

Around 400 students, joined by faculty and staff, packed the gymnasium over at De Smet high school in Creve Coeur to celebrate the election of the first-ever American Pope.

The brief service featured around 10 minutes of prayer.

The school prayed for Pope Leo XIV’s leadership and guidance of the global Catholic church.

A picture of the new pontiff is displayed front and center as you enter the high school’s lobby.

One student FOX 2 caught up with said he hopes the new pope will inspire his generation to act by holding them accountable.

Another said the service gave him hope for the future and said he appreciates the new pope’s focus on missionary work.