The leader of the Diocese of Palm Beach hailed the choice of American-born Pope Leo XIV as Pope Francis' successor.

Pope Leo XIV laid out the vision of his papacy Saturday, identifying artificial intelligence as one of the most critical matters facing humanity and vowing to continue with some of the core priorities of Pope Francis.

Pope Leo XIV laid out the vision of his papacy Saturday, identifying artificial intelligence as one of the most critical matters facing humanity and vowing to continue with some of the core ...

Every pope brings a distinct vision and agenda for leading the church. Making change is difficult in the Catholic Church, but Francis’ actions might have paved the way.

Leo gave a prepared address and then opened the floor to any cardinal who wanted to make a comment, a different format to what previous popes have done.

The Catholic Church has welcomed its first American pope, Pope Leo XIV, sparking global interest in how he will tackle sensitive topics like LGBTQ rights, political figures like Donald Trump, and a range of social issues.

The pope’s election coincides with an era that is fraught with war and rising global authoritarianism. He takes the helm of a church with 53 million Catholics in the U.S. and 1.4 million in San Diego and Imperial counties, at a time when religious affiliation in the U.S. is stabilizing after years of decline.