The Church of St. Leo the Great in Corona will hold a special bilingual Mass this evening, Wednesday, May 14, at 6:30 p.m. to celebrate the election of the newly named Pope Leo XIV, the first American to lead the Catholic Church.
The Mass will be held at 104-02 48th Ave. and will include the exposition of a sacred relic of St. Leo the Great, the church’s patron.
Retired Auxiliary Bishop Octavio Cisneros of the Diocese of Brooklyn will preside over the celebration, which will bring together parishioners, clergy and students from St. Leo Catholic Academy to honor this historic moment for the global Catholic community.
Following the Mass, the Blessed Sacrament will be exposed for adoration until midnight.
This commemorative liturgy holds special significance for the Corona parish, which remains the only Roman Catholic church in New York City named in honor of St. Leo the Great—one of the most influential popes of the early Church.
Pope St. Leo I served as pontiff from 440 to 461 A.D., during a turbulent time in the Roman Empire. He was known for his defense of orthodox doctrine at the Council of Chalcedon and for his famous confrontation with Attila the Hun, earning him the title “Leo the Great.”
Now, with the naming of Pope Leo XIV, the parish finds itself uniquely connected to both past and present papacies.
The event is open to the public, and all are welcome to attend the Mass and veneration.
