An American was elected pope
Robert Prevost was elected yesterday as the new pope to lead the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics. He took the papal name Leo XIV and greeted a cheering crowd of followers at St. Peter’s Square by saying, “Peace be with you.”
The choice of an American to be pope marks a significant departure from tradition. “In a world that seems upside down, old taboos are also breaking in the Vatican, where the idea of an American pope was unimaginable for generations,” said a Rome bureau chief.
The cardinals reached their decision after a little more than 24 hours in the conclave. As pope, Leo will face challenging decisions regarding the church’s direction, particularly whether to continue Pope Francis’ agenda of greater inclusion and openness to change or to pursue a different path.
Born in Chicago, the 69-year-old pontiff spent much of his life outside the U.S. He served as a missionary, parish priest, teacher, and bishop for two decades in Peru. He was made a cardinal by Francis less than two years ago and held a significant Vatican position managing the selection and oversight of bishops globally.
A member of the Order of St. Augustine, he shares Francis' commitment to the poor and migrants and aims to meet people where they are. It remains uncertain whether he will be as inclusive towards gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender Catholics as Francis was.
Leo will celebrate Mass at the Sistine Chapel today with the cardinals who elected him. He will recite a prayer on Sunday at St. Peter’s Basilica and meet with journalists at the Vatican on Monday.
Trump’s trade deal with Britain left details to be settled
President Trump announced yesterday that Britain had agreed to a new trade deal aimed at increasing market access for billions of dollars of U.S. exports. This agreement marks the first reached by the Trump administration since the imposition of higher tariffs on trading partners.
Both sides will need to convene in the coming months to finalize many details. The 10 percent tariff imposed by Trump in April on Britain and other nations will remain, although tariffs on British steel, aluminum, and automobiles will be reduced. In exchange, Britain will provide access to beef, ethanol, and other U.S. products.
Contextually, the final deal may hold more significance for Britain than for the U.S., as Britain ranks No. 11 among major U.S. trading partners, while the U.S. is Britain’s largest trading partner.
Looking ahead, E.U. officials have prepared a list of 95 billion euros worth of U.S. goods that could be targeted with higher tariffs. Shortly after, Trump stated that U.S. officials “intend to make a deal” with Europe. Additionally, a first round of U.S.-China trade talks is anticipated this weekend in Switzerland.
Danger grows in South Asia
Both India and Pakistan reported military site attacks yesterday, with heavy shelling and strikes occurring overnight along their border. Secretary of State Marco Rubio communicated with leaders from both nations, stressing the need for “immediate de-escalation,” according to the State Department.
Despite both countries claiming they do not seek to escalate the conflict, the situation on the ground suggests that neither is prepared to retreat.
India is currently working to limit Pakistan’s access to international financial aid.
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