The Pope: The Symbol of Christianity
Photo courtesy of The Associated Press
As you may know, a new Pope has been chosen. The Pope is the leader of the Roman Catholic Church. The new Pope, who will be called Pope Leo XIV, is the first American-born Pope, hailing from Chicago.
According to Catholic tradition, Saint Peter served as the first Bishop of Rome and was later martyred in Rome, traditionally believed to have been crucified. This established the Bishop of Rome as the spiritual leader of the Christian Church. Over time, the Bishop of Rome came to be known as the Pope, regarded as the supreme leader of the Catholic Church, based on the belief that Jesus appointed Peter as the leader of His followers.
Pope Francis was the previous Pope and passed away on August 21, 2025. He was born in Argentina and served as the 266th Pope from March 13, 2013, until his death. He was the first Pope from the Americas and was known for his humility, emphasis on mercy, and commitment to social justice. He focused on issues such as poverty, migration, and interfaith dialogue. Pope Francis also introduced the Synod on Synodality, aiming to make the Church more inclusive and participatory.
On May 8, 2025, Cardinal Robert Prevost was elected as the 267th Pope and took the name Pope Leo XIV. He is the first American-born Pope and was born in Chicago in 1955. (I encourage you to check out the “Pope Leo XIV Chicago” memes online — there are some great ones!) Prevost previously served as a bishop in Peru and was elevated to cardinal in 2023.
So far, Pope Leo XIV has called for humanitarian aid access to Gaza and has also offered the Vatican — the tiny independent city-state where the Pope resides — as a venue for peace talks between Russia and Ukraine.
Pope Leo XIV begins his papacy at a critical moment for both the Roman Catholic Church and the world. As the first American Pope, his election signifies change and diversity. His early calls for peace and humanitarian aid demonstrate a commitment to addressing urgent international crises. Pope Leo XIV faces many challenges, both within the Church and globally, making his leadership more important than ever.
