Francis, the first Latin American pope, clearly had his eye on Prevost and in many ways saw him as his heir apparent.

ROME - The new Chicago-raised Pope Leo XIV faces an immediate challenge in his native country: taming the brawling U.S. tribe ...

Leo’s ascent occurred with remarkable speed. Just over two years ago, he’d been one of the church’s 5,400 bishops — a role with no global visibility.

Many expect the new pontiff to be a bridge-builder in the Vatican, more centrist than liberal or conservative, and a pope who will be guided by the pursuit of social equality and compassion for the po ...

After celebrating his first Mass as pope, Leo XIV is slated to have a full schedule in the coming days. His next engagement is expected to be a May 10 meeting with cardinals. He'll then have midday ...