Newly elected Pope Leo XIV's significance as leader of the Catholic Church is beyond dispute, but the papacy's role has historically extended far beyond the altar and pews. For more than a century, the papacy has shaped American affairs—through spiritual and cultural guidance—but also by quietly influencing major geopolitical shifts and cultural developments.

To many, Pope Leo XIV seemed a different sort of American, a man who served the poor for decades, spoke Spanish and Italian and was close to Pope Francis.

Members of the papal conclave selected the American to serve as the 267th pope. He will take the name Leo XIV. He also has significant ties to the local area as a Villanova University alumnus. Here's more about Pope Leo XIV,