First American Pope Brings Social Justice Mission to Torn World
Pope Leo XIV celebrated his first mass as pontiff Friday after his historic appointment as the first American to lead the world’s 1.4 billion Roman Catholics.
His elevation puts another US voice on the world stage, but the new pope’s relationship with his home country may not be simple. His past pronouncements as a cardinal and initial signals as pope are that some of his views put him at odds with the actions of Donald Trump and his administration.
When Leo XIV spoke to crowds from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, his first message was against all forms of division and war.
“Build bridges, with dialog, through encounters, uniting everyone to be a single people, always at peace,” he said. “Evil will not prevail.”
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-05-09/how-white-sox-fan-bob-beat-the-odds-to-become-first-us-pope-magm35ho?accessToken=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJzb3VyY2UiOiJTdWJzY3JpYmVyR2lmdGVkQXJ0aWNsZSIsImlhdCI6MTc0NjgxMDYyOSwiZXhwIjoxNzQ3NDE1NDI5LCJhcnRpY2xlSWQiOiJTVlpONUhMSkozTFMwMCIsImJjb25uZWN0SWQiOiJDNjgyQTUwQzJCRDM0MTFCQTgwQjEwQjZEQjczQzM1MSJ9.exHOWVRHk_u7ppYQQZLL9DKFi4cucNfElTI5bYV_zjM