He is certainly the most well-known and respected American currently on the world stage.

He is Pope Leo XIV, and he recently marked his first six months in the role he was elected to in May after the death of Pope Francis.

It seemed the entire world was watching when Leo was elected by the College of Cardinals shortly after Francis died. The joy and the hope on display in St. Peter’s Square when Leo first emerged was palpable.

Camillo Barone recently did a two-part series for National Catholic Reporter on the conclave that elected Pope Leo. Various cardinals involved with the conclave spoke to NCR about the process, which many of them described as calm and “spiritual.”

“This is how I define that period of time: a light but powerful blast of the Holy Spirit, which filled us with joy and

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