At 69, Chicago-born Robert Francis Prevost became Pope Leo XIV on May 8, 2025. “I was born in the United States… my grandparents were all immigrants,” he shared. Deeply rooted in Catholic tradition, he is now the second pope from the Americas, following Pope Francis.

Pope Leo’s views on immigration, the poor, and the environment echo those of his predecessor and contrast sharply with Trump-era politics. After his election, Donald Trump reposted an AI image of himself as pope, joking, “I’d like to be pope.” The image sparked backlash, especially after it was reshared by the White House. Trump later congratulated Pope Leo, calling his election “such an honor for our country.”