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What Pope Leo XIV’s speedy election means for the Catholic Church

Inside the VaticanMay 09, 2025
Newly elected Pope Leo XIV appears at the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Thursday, May 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

Welcome to America magazine’s Conclave Podcast. In this episode, veteran Vatican reporter Gerard O'Connell speaks to Colleen Dulle and Sam Sawyer, S.J., about the unexpectedly quick election of Pope Leo XIV, who was elected on the fourth ballot in the conclave.

They discuss:

  • What does the speedy election tell us about the conclave?
  • Why a pope from the U.S. was thought to be “impossible,” and why it happened anyway
  • Leo XIV’s first address to the world and homily to the cardinals
  • Who was Leo XIII—and who is Leo XIV in light of his legacy?
  • Leo XIV’s time as a poor missionary in Peru and a capable administrator on a global stage

Sign up for America’s subscriber-exclusive “Conclave Diary” daily newsletter and get all of our extensive coverage at: https://www.americamagazine.org/subscribe

Links from the show:

Inside the Vatican

Inside the Vatican is a podcast that goes behind the headlines of the biggest Vatican news stories with hosts Colleen Dulle and Gerard O’Connell.

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