The election of Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost as the new Pope marks a turning point in the history of the Catholic Church. By choosing the name Leo XIV, he has drawn a connection with a previous pope who left a lasting mark on the church and the world. But more than the name, it is his background that makes his papacy so significant. For the first time, a North American has become Pope. Until now, there was an unwritten understanding that an American would not be elected to the position. This was because the United States, as the world’s only superpower, might be seen as wielding too much influence. However, the election of the American by 133 cardinals — the........

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