Fulcrum Executive Director Vivian Shannon spent the end of last week on the phone with reporters and in front of tv cameras following the election of Pope Leo XIV on Thursday. Her amazing story of meeting two popes in Rome last fall has captured the attention of many.
Last November, Vivian represented Fulcrum in Rome with Foundations and Donors Interested in Catholic Activities (FADICA). A highlight of the trip was a private audience with Pope Francis and the opportunity to speak briefly and present him with a card showcasing the 74 Catholic schools in the archdiocese.
On the final day of her trip, the then-Cardinal Robert Prevost celebrated a private Mass in the Baroque hotel chapel for the small group of FADICA pilgrims, where each received Holy Communion from him. Following Mass, they were invited to lunch with Cardinal Prevost, where they learned about his work as the head of the Vatican Dicastery for Bishops.
Seated directly next to Cardinal Prevost, Vivian was struck by his humble manner and his thoughtful engagement with each person at the table. He shared stories about his work selecting bishops around the world and meeting weekly with Pope Francis to address the needs of the Church.
Vivian recalls feeling blessed to have “just dined with someone who will help select our next pope.” However, it never occurred to her that he could be the one chosen to lead our global Church.
Last week, Vivian joined the world watching in excitement for the new pope to emerge on the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica. When she caught the first glimpse of who appeared, she was overwhelmed with emotion. She shares, “I was initially speechless, but as the reality settled in, I was filled with joy, hope, and deep gratitude for the opportunity of a lifetime to meet two popes in one week! The visit with Pope Francis kicked off our time in Rome, and the Mass and lunch with Cardinal Prevost closed out our trip. Papal bookends. Who could have ever imagined that?”
Vivian is prayerfully discerning how God expects her to use the many graces she received from her trip to Rome and takes seriously the message from the Gospel of Luke 12:48—to whom much is given, much is required. She intends to use these graces and blessings to continue to care for others and hopefully bring people closer to God by more deeply leaning into her Catholic faith and living out Catholic social teaching in her daily life. She also intends to lead Fulcrum from this perspective: “We are custodians who are responsible for caring for the many generous gifts that others have shared to support and grow Catholic education in our region. This is a responsibility that I take very seriously.”