Long Islanders were among those who packed St. Peter’s Square in Vatican City when Pope Leo was elected the first American leader of the Catholic Church.

Pope Leo XIV appealed for "no more war" in a message to world powers during his first Sunday address at the Vatican. Reflecting on current conflicts, the newly selected pontiff called for a "lasting peace" in the war in Ukraine,

I met the man who would become Pope Leo XIV in October 2023. We were standing outside the Vatican’s Synod Hall, and from my short conversation with Cardinal Robert Prevost, I could tell he was a good listener,

VATICAN CITY — Catholic cardinals broke with tradition Thursday and elected the first U.S. pope, making Chicago-born missionary Robert Prevost the 267th pontiff to lead the Catholic Church in a moment of global turmoil and conflict.