Pope Leo’s changes to the papal wardrobe considered a ‘return to form’ - Pope Leo XIV has made waves with some of his fashion choices, returning to much of the traditional pomp of popes past

From the moment Pope Leo XIV emerged from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, church observers have sought comparisons between the new, U.S.-born pontiff and his predecessor Pope Francis. Vatican experts who worked closely with Pope Francis have underlined the close relationship between the two men,

As headlines in major U.S. publications on May 8 blared that the first pope from the U.S. had been elected, newspapers in Peru, where he is a citizen, begged to differ.

One of the greatest challenges facing Pope Leo XIV is financial. He has inherited the Holy See’s chronic, 50 million to 60 million euro ($57-68 million) structural deficit, a 1 billion euro ($1.14 billion) pension fund shortfall and declining donations.

When Pope Leo XIV stepped out on the central loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica to greet the crowd for the first time after his May 8 election, liturgical fashion aficionados around the globe took note: Gone was the simple white cassock and silver cross favored by Pope Francis.