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.

One cardinal who cast his ballot said the pope’s choice of the papal name Leo might signal a particular interest in workers’ rights.

Americans in St. Peter’s Square were stunned and joyous when they learned that an American cardinal, Robert Provost, was elected pope and had taken the name Leo XIV.