Kirksville Mary Immaculate School eighth-grader wins K of C essay contest
The following essay by Sofia Ramirez, a recent graduate of Mary Immaculate School in Kirksville, is the winning essay in the Knights of Columbus’s Citizenship Essay Contest:
“American Pope”
Think about this: a kid growing up in an American neighborhood, going to youth groups, maybe playing sports, and now, he’s the Pope. Crazy right? That’s exactly what happened to Pope Leo XIV. He’s the first pope born and raised in the United States, and his story is more than simply historical. It’s inspiring. His life illustrates that it is very possible to live a holy life today. It teaches us that God still calls people nowadays, in our present everyday life. It verifies that great callings usually start with those small acts of faith.
What’s so lovable about Pope Leo XIV is that his early life was so normal. He went to school, played sports with his friends, and lived a pretty normal social life, but he didn’t let any of those things take him away from his religion. He made time for Mass, prayer, and helping others even when it was difficult. He didn’t have this perfect religious bubble growing up; he had an actual life, just like us. Still, he managed to maintain focus on getting closer to God. That shows us that holiness is not perfection; its commitment.
One outstanding aspect of strength in his life is how he heard God calling him. It was at a teen retreat, something most people go through. He saw nothing spectacular or anything, just a sense that God was beckoning him to do more. He wrestled with doubts early on. He questioned whether he was the right guy or whether he could even accomplish that kind of life. But he didn’t turn his back on it. He prayed, he listened, and he stayed open. Even when his friends did not understand and there was peer pressure, he did not waver from what he sensed God was calling him to do.
What I think stands out is how his big calling started with small acts of faith. It all began at home with simple things praying with his family, going to church on Sundays, and helping people in small ways. He didn’t grow up thinking, “I’m going to be pope someday.” He just tried to follow God each day, one step at a time. That’s something all of us can do. It’s little things each day we can do. Like help in church or go to small groups.
Pope Leo XIV is living witness to the fact that anyone, even a kid from a small neighborhood in America, can be summoned by God. His life challenges young people to take their faith seriously and shows them that religious life is possible. It’s real, it’s joyful, and it matters. His story keeps us in mind that sanctity is present today. God is still calling, and the calls have a way of beginning with simple, plain faith.
