How Pope Leo XIV chooses to tackle critical topics from same-sex marriage to women in the church remains to be seen, but those who know him say he’ll likely continue his predecessor’s path in his own image.

Speakers blasted “Born in the U.S.A. and ”American Pie" as six cardinal electors from the United States celebrated the first U.S. pope a day after Chicago-born Cardinal Robert Prevost became Pope Leo XIV.

After less than 24 hours of seclusion in the Vatican, cardinals ended the 2025 papal conclave with the election of a new pontiff. The man chosen, Cardinal Robert Prevost, will be known as Pope Leo XIV — the first pope ever from the United States.