Pope Francis

Several LGBTQ groups participated in the pilgrimage to the Vatican for the Jubilee Year, the once-every-quarter century celebration of Catholicism.

Carlo Acutis was just 15 when he died of leukemia in Milan in 2006 and has two miracles attributed to him by the Catholic Church.

The audience was significant because it showed a sign of continuity with Francis, who more worked to make the Catholic Church a more welcoming place for LGBTQ Catholics.

Pope Leo XIV’s home state of Illinois has seen one of the largest declines in Catholic worshippers.

Leo is also the first Augustinian friar to become pope, rising through the ranks as a friar in an order centered on communal life and humility.

Robert Francis Prevost will be known as Pope Leo XIV. Born in Chicago, he was elected on the second day of the conclave.

The new leader of 1.4 billion Catholics around the world grew up in a Chicago suburb and was recognized as "just godly" by his elementary school classmates.

America's first pontiff will grapple with the church’s decline in Europe and rise in Africa, Asia and Latin America, and will need to confront the decadeslong sexual abuse scandal.

Prevost will be known as Pope Leo XIV. Born in Chicago, he was elected on the second day of the conclave.

From priests on pogo sticks celebrating in St. Peter’s Square to the crowd outside St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York, the overwhelming emotions were shock, joy and hope.

Papal elections are speeding up as popes get older.