Pope Leo XIII, who served from 1878 to 1903, led the church into the modern world, emphasizing its moral authority beyond national boundaries. He defended the rights of working people and affirmed the value of science.
The nuclear-armed rivals are also wrangling over Pakistan’s access to desperately needed foreign aid, as India explores ways to use its soft power and relationships to bedevil its old enemy.
Before Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost became pope, a social media account under his name shared criticisms of the Trump administration’s positions on immigration.
Robert Francis Prevost, who led the Vatican office that selects and manages bishops around the world, has spent much of his life outside the United States.
When selecting a name, popes often look to history and make a choice imbued with personal meaning. The decision can also signal the direction a pontificate might take.