5 takeaways from Robert Prevost’s election as first American pope

E.J. Dionne Jr.: With Leo, there’s no going back from Francis

The selection of Pope Leo XIV, formerly Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, means there will be no turning back from the direction charted by Pope Francis, who made Prevost a cardinal in 2023.

Pope Leo's election underscores religion's enduring relevance

Commentators were quick to assess the political fallout of Robert Francis Prevost’s election to become the 267th pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church. Does Pope Leo XIV’s public criticism of Vice President JD Vance’s views on immigration indicate a hostile stance toward MAGA? Were his ornate vestments a nod to traditional American Catholics alienated by the Francis papacy? Will he be a climate change crusader like his predecessor, as his past co…

Pope Leo XIV: A White Sox fan who calls his brother daily from Rome

By Eric Bradner, Whitney Wild, CNN (CNN) — The morning after John Prevost watched his younger brother Robert become Pope Leo XIV, he received a familiar phone call. The new pope — who calls John every day — was well aware of the global interest in his selection as the first pontiff born in the United States. Journalists had descended on his family and friends, as well as many of the stops he’d made on his journey from a youth on the south side o…

Brooks and Capehart on Pope Leo XIV's potential impact on U.S. culture and politics

New York Times columnist David Brooks and Washington Post associate editor Jonathan Capehart join Geoff Bennett to discuss the week in politics, including the election of the first American pope and his potential impact on U.S. culture and politics, former President Biden's media tour and Supreme Court justices defending an independent judiciary.

Pope Leo XIV will be a ‘great teacher’ as new pontiff, friend says

Father Joseph Farrell, Vicar General of the Order of St. Augustine that was once led by Pope Leo XIV, joins TODAY to share insights on his friend of 30 years, saying he thinks he'll be a “great teacher.” He also discusses the historic election and how believes the new pontiff was able to become the first American-born leader of the Catholic Church. "He doesn't present himself nor is he a man that wields power. He recognizes that in order to serv…

O.C. couple recall ‘electricity and energy’ in Rome for Pope Leo XIV debut

On Thursday, history was made when Pope Leo XIV became the first U.S.-born pope in the history of the Catholic church. Chuck and Annette Walker from Orange County were at the Vatican to witness the historic moment.