Religious Leaders

When Greg Thompson became bishop of Newcastle, he refused to turn a blind eye to the decades-long child sex abuse scandals in the diocese. For him, it was personal. He was himself a sexual abuse survivor. But speaking out came at huge cost. 

Worshippers have descended on churches across the United States and beyond to honour the new Catholic leader, Pope Leo XIV.

The youngest cardinal to vote in the conclave has described his experience of electing the new pope. 

The election of Pope Leo XIV brings the Catholic Church closer to the United States in a way it has never been before, but with that comes a unique challenge.

Addressing the cardinals in English, he said, "You have called me to carry the cross and to be blessed," and asked for their help in spreading the Catholic faith.

Pope Leo XIV will lead the Catholic world as a pontiff who has been outspoken on social issues.

Cardinal Robert Prevost is now Pope Leo XIV, becoming the first North American to be elevated to the papacy.

Chicago-born Robert Prevost, now Pope Leo XIV, has been elected as pontiff. Here's what's anticipated from his papacy when it comes to key issues facing the Church. 

He was a close confidant of the previous pontiff, Pope Francis, and we learnt a lot about what he might be planning to do after his brief speech. 

Noel Debien says Pope Leo XIV, despite being a moderate, is a diplomat who knows how to bring factions together.

Donald Trump says it's a great honour for an American to serve as pope.

Pope Leo XIV is the first American pope in the Catholic Church's history and is regarded as a moderate voice.

In his first public remarks, the Pope said God loves us all and we should be united as one people in peace.

Robert Prevost — who was brought to the Vatican in 2023 as the powerful head of the office that vets bishop nominations — becomes the first pontiff born in the United States.  

Catholics worldwide are celebrating the election of Cardinal Robert Prevost as Pope Leo XIV. 

People cheer and run through the streets of Rome towards the Vatican, as the new leader of the Catholic Church, Pope Leo XIV, makes his first appearance in St Peter's Square.

Black smoke has again billowed from the Sistine Chapel, with the papal conclave yet to elect a new pope.

Sequestered cardinals are deliberating for a second day inside Vatican City as they attempt to pick a new pope. Voting on Thursday morning, local time, did not yield a conclusive result.

Cardinals are entering the second day of electing a new pope after the first conclave failed to find a winner on Wednesday.

Analysts expect the decision to select the new pope will not take more than a few days.