I have been fascinated by the fascination with Pope Leo XIV, the first American pontiff. Even though I’m endlessly fascinated by the papacy and even watched the movie Conclave early in its release, I did not foresee that Cardinal Robert Prevost of Illinois and Peru would be selected.
Here are some of the analyses I’ve read. He’s the first Augustinian pope. Noblemen, enslaved people, freedom fighters, slaveholders: what the complex family tree reveals. The DC Report on the issues as of his ascendency. He studied under a pioneer in Jewish-Catholic relations, the Rev. John T. Pawlikowski, when he attended seminary in Chicago.
From Catholic Social Teaching in Action (CAPP-USA): “His chosen name puts Him in a particularly close relationship with the Social Doctrine of the Church and our Foundation’s activities at a time when the Church is called upon to provide hope and moral leadership in a world of divisions, conflicts, and disorder.”
Is he hiding his light under a bushel? Lost in translation: Should US-born Pope Leo XIV speak in English more often? When he “praised migrants on July 25 amid… mass deportation policies, causing unrest in Southern California and throughout the country, few Americans knew what he was saying. Until his comments were translated into English.”
But the remarks WERE translated, and quickly. Still, “there are an estimated 1.5 billion English speakers in the world, compared to 68 million Italian speakers… Like his predecessor, Leo has preferred to speak Italian in public settings. “
The fact that he’s from the Chicago area and roots for the baseball Chicago White Sox has won over most Americans. He’s getting unsolicited deliveries from Windy City pizzerias.
“‘Our new pope has aura’ read one comment on a Tik Tok video about the newly elected pope.
“‘I’m an atheist and I started liking this guy,’ wrote another user.
“And with tens of thousands of spectators gathered in front of the Vatican with social media posts, reporters’ notebooks, and vlogging cameras in hand, awaiting the Conclave’s decision, Pope Leo XIV has already gone viral.
“‘As the first-ever pope born in the United States, Leo has especially garnered attention among U.S. spectators. While the number of religious folks in the country has consistently dropped over the past couple of decades, it seems the Conclave revealed an underlying interest in religion — even among the nonreligious.'”
At the end of July, he gave content to Catholic Digital Missionaries and Influencers (!). Then, in early August, he held a Youth Mass, telling the gathered, in English, “The Lord is gently knocking at the window of your soul.” He told a million Catholic youths they were a sign that a “different world is possible.” He is a rock star!
So it is not surprising that Leo has made Carlo Acutis the first millennial saint, although it should be noted that if Francis had lived long enough, he would have elevated him.
How long will the glow last? I have no idea. But I can wish Pope Leo XIV a happy birthday.
Here are some folks who turn 70 in February 2025, plus a few who did not make it. 
Musician Joe Jackson was considered one of those “angry young men” in the pop scene that straddled the 1970s and 1980s. I first heard his 
Before I turn to folks born in October 1953, I should note that I missed September altogether.
I’ve been listening to John Hiatt for nearly four decades. So enamored with his music was I that I wrote a post about him when he turned