COMMENTARY: The words of the doctor of the Church, In Illo uno unum — ‘In the One, we are one’ — express the spiritual unity of all Christians as members of Christ’s body.

Erik Pohlmeier, bishop of the Diocese of St. Augustine, is one of many welcoming Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, a 69-year-old Chicago native, as Pope Leo XIV, the new leader of the Roman Catholic Church. Pohlmeier described the appointing of the first American Pope in history as a “great honor,” in a public statement issued by the diocese.

Despite being the first pope from America, a country where the Catholic Church is known for its relative conservatism, Pope Leo XIV — who spent much of his adult life working in Peru — is expected to largely continue his predecessor’s progressive reforms,

Robert Francis Prevost from Chicago became Pope Leo XIV. He is the first American to hold the position. Donald Trump claimed his influence in the Vatican's decision. Trump criticized ABC News for downplaying his role.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has invited Pope Leo XIV to Ukraine. During their first phone chat, Zelensky thanked him for supporting peace.