Even as Pope Leo XIV's profile as a humble champion of the disenfranchised takes shape, a looming question is how he will approach the Catholic Church's sexual abuse crisis while leading a global institution that has maintained secrecy and silence around its handling of claims against clergy.

Pope Leo XIV received the Brothers of the Christian Schools, founded by St. John Baptist de La Salle, on May 15 at the Vatican.

VATICAN CITY — Pope Leo XIV met Thursday at the Vatican with the head of the Greek Catholic Church in Ukraine, in one of his first audiences as pontiff that reaffirmed his appeal for a peaceful, negotiated end to Russia’s war.

The first American pope could earn just as much as a U.S. president, but he’ll also enjoy a gilded palace complete with free food—and eventually a $3,300 a month retirement.

In one of Chicago’s south suburbs, while other boys were playing cops and robbers, the future Pope Leo XIV would pretend to hold Mass in the basement of his family’s small brick home, reading from scripture and distributing disk-shaped candy wafers to his two older brothers.

In the One, We Are One – and images underscore how for him, “promoting unity and communion is fundamental.” Local parishes may now purchase the official portrait of our new Holy Father.

Vance will travel this weekend to Vatican City where he will attend the inaugural Mass of Pope Leo XIV, history’s first American pontiff, who has previously been critical of him.

The Holy Father stressed that the Holy See ‘is always ready to help bring enemies together’ to dialogue and recover ‘the dignity of peace.’