Motoko Rich

The papacy is a global platform, so the issues Pope Leo chooses to focus on can resonate far beyond the church.

When still a cardinal, the new pope led discussions on key issues facing the church during which “every voice had equal value,” whether an archbishop or an unordained believer.

As cardinals gather to elect Pope Francis’ successor, they are facing debates over whether the church most needs change or constancy.

Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, a native of Chicago, has spent the bulk of his career outside the United States. Supporters say he represents a “dignified middle of the road.”