I met the man who would become Pope Leo XIV in October 2023. We were standing outside the Vatican’s Synod Hall, and from my short conversation with Cardinal Robert Prevost, I could tell he was a good listener,

For the first time in the history of these two preeminent institutions, their chosen leaders share the same nationality.

The first American pope could earn just as much as a U.S. president, but he’ll also enjoy a gilded palace complete with free food—and eventually a $3,300 a month retirement.