The United States was often deemed too powerful — militarily, diplomatically, and even culturally — for one of its own to control one of the world’s most influential seats of moral authority: the Roman Catholic Church and its flock, which is currently more than three times the size of the US population.

On this episode, The Washington Post's Libby Casey, Rhonda Colvin and James Hohmann are joined by religion reporter Michelle Boorstein and Rome bureau chief Anthony Faiola to discuss the papal conclave and the election of the first American pope,

From Washington to Rome, leaders around the globe responded to the surprise election of American Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost as the next head of the Catholic Church.

Let us keep in our ears the weak voice of Pope Francis that blesses Rome,” Leo said during his address on Thursday. “The Pope who blessed Rome, gave his blessing to the ent

The conclave was called after Francis died on April 21 at age 88. There was a delay between his death and the conclave to allow time for a funeral, burial and a period of mourning. It was also necessary to give cardinals time to arrive in Rome from all corners of the Earth,