Making pope leo

19 min read

How a kid from the Midwest became the leader of the Catholic Church

By Belin

This article is from...

Time Magazine Europe

19 July 2025

How It Works

How to pick a pope

Follow the Vatican’s journey to appoint the next direct successor of Saint Peter

BBC History Magazine

“the pope doesn’t have to be a great theologian – but he has to be in tune with the zeitgeist”

Matt Elton Can you briefly explain the papal conclave, and who’s involved? Rebecca Rist It’s based on the system instituted by Pope Gregory X in the 13th century. After the death of a pontiff, members

BBC History Magazine

Q&a

Few objects in the long history of the Catholic church stir the imagination quite like the fabled sedia stercoraria. With a name that roughly translates as ‘dung chair’, the myth of the so-called papa

The TLS

Galactic idiot

FOUNDATIONS ROME BEFORE ROME The legends that ...

The Critic

Not university material

“SINCE IT IS DIFFICULT FOR A UNIVER sity ...

OK!

A king in the making

The summer holidays will be a chance for the Princess of Wales to spend precious time with her family before her three children begin a brand new school year. And this summer will be one Kate will esp

How It Works

How to pick a pope

Follow the Vatican’s journey to appoint the next direct successor of Saint Peter

BBC History Magazine

“the pope doesn’t have to be a great theologian – but he has to be in tune with the zeitgeist”

FOUNDATIONS ROME BEFORE ROME The legends that ...

The Critic

Not university material