I don’t think he is going to go, pull the church hard left,” Prevost also said. “I think he’s going to be down the middle.”

Members of the media floated the notion that Pope Leo XIV, the first American pope, will serve as a counterbalance to President Donald Trump.

Pope Leo XIV on Monday called for the release of imprisoned journalists and affirmed the “precious gift of free speech and the press”

The U.S. is one of only a handful of countries that taxes citizens living abroad. Thus, thanks to his American passport, the 69-year-old Chicago-born pope, known until last week as Robert Prevost, will likely need to file a tax return to the U.S. government just like any other citizen, experts told Fortune.

Abuse watchdog groups have expressed concern, but Leo has been lauded by other survivors for his handling of abuse.

Pope Leo XIV, previously Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, faces scrutiny for his conservative views on LGBTQ+ issues, contrasting with Pope Francis's inclusive approach.

Pope Leo XIV appears to confirm favourite sports team after chanting with fan - The first US leader of the global Catholic Church enjoyed interacting with a Roma supporter earlier this week

Father Robert Prevost, who is now Pope Leo XIV, served at St. Matthew's Roman Catholic Church in Flint for several months in 1999.