A new chapter began in the history of the Roman Catholic Church when the Papal Throne was occupied by Americans. First, the Argentine Jorge Mario Bergoglio, who became Pope Francis in 2013, and then the American Robert Francis Preve, elected under the name Leo XIV in 2025. Both pontiffs brought the spirit of the New World to the Vatican, combining decisive innovations with deep respect for the two-thousand-year tradition.Pope Francis: the first pope from Latin America The election of the Argentine cardinal in 2013 was a historic event. For the first time in two millennia, the head of the Roman Catholic Church became a person not from Europe, but from Latin America. Francis immediately began to change the style of papal service, rejecting the luxury of the Apostolic Palace in favor of a modest guesthouse, preferring simple clothing and direct dialogue with people on the streets. As a pontiff, he brought the spirit of "the church for the poor" to the Vatican, wrote the encyclical "Laudato Si" on climate protection and the criticism of consumerism. Francis initiated processes of debureaucratization of the church, the fight against corruption, and the creation of a more open hierarchical structure. At the same time, he did not break the dogmas, but rather created "processes capable of changing the face of faith over time". His reforms always balanced on the edge of innovation and tradition. Francis showed by example that the church can be closer to people, and this approach became the foundation for his successor.Pope Leo XIV: the first pope from the United States On May 8, 2025, the white smoke over the Sistine Chapel heralded a new historic event: for the first time, the Pope was a native of the United States. The 69-year-old Cardinal Robert Francis Preve, taking the name Leo XIV, began a new era. He became the 267th pope and the first pontiff from the United States. The choice of an American was seen as a compromise figure between conservative and progressive forces ... Read more