Hints as to what postures Pope Leo XIV, formerly Cardinal Robert Prevost, might take on some of the most controversial issues roiling the U.S. may come from his recent activity on social media​.

Pope Leo XIV, the first American to lead the Catholic Church, might play a significant role in American political debates, especially on immigration issues. His election as pope raises hopes for changes in relations with Donald Trump's administration.

The new Chicago-raised Pope Leo XIV faces an immediate challenge in his native country: taming the brawling U.S. tribe of Catholics, riven by political divisions that have thwarted the will of his predecessors.