pope

When the white smoke poured out of St. Peter's Basilica last week, 73-year-old Port Charlotte resident Louis Prevost learned that his brother — Robert Prevost — had been elected pope.

The pope’s maternal grandparents, both of whom are described as Black or mulatto in various historical records, lived in the city’s 7th Ward, an area that is traditionally Catholic and a melting pot of people with African, Caribbean and European roots.

Archbishop Thomas Wenski of Miami expressed support for Pope Leo XIV, saying he is prepared to lead the Church's faithful. He also expressed hope for a first papal visit to South Florida in nearly four decades.

Biden is the second Catholic U.S. president, and his faith is central in his public image. The pastor at a D.C. church where the president worships tells NPR that Biden has felt supported by Francis.

The pope spoke about a report released Tuesday that estimated some 330,000 French children were abused by clergy and other church authority figures dating back to 1950.

From the balcony of a tenth-floor window, the 84-year-old pope gave a blessing and spoke of the importance of free and accessible health care.

The surprise move is seen as a rebuke to Pope Francis, who is weighing whether to allow older, married men to be ordained in some South American countries, where a shortage of priests is acute.

In a nearly hourlong speech, Pope Francis called for action on climate change, encouraged empathy for immigrants and advocated for the poor. He also said he supports abolishing the death penalty.

Pope Francis is the first pope from Latin America, a choice that makes sense strategically as the church becomes less Europe-centric. But how he will direct the church, which is still dealing with the fallout of the sexual abuse crisis and other challenges, remains unclear.