Averting a financial crisis “will rank among most pressing issues for the new pontiff,” says Charles Gillespie, PhD, professor at Sacred Heart University in Connecticut.

Prior to being elected, Pope Leo XIV had a presence on X, where he sometimes shared messages that appeared to be critical of some of President Donald Trump's policies.

Pope Leo XIV is the first Pope from the Order of St. Augustine, which suggests he will promote peace and dialogue.

The first American pope — previously known as Cardinal Robert Prevost — was elected on May 8 Pope Leo XIV has plenty to say about his home country. The first-ever American pope was elected to lead the Catholic church on May 8.

“Holy Father, you had me at ‘JD Vance is wrong,’” Colbert quipped as the studio audience roared with cheers.

The historic election of Pope Leo XIV as the first U.S.-born pope is already upending an earlier calculus about U.S. conservative opposition to reform.