Newly appointed Pope Leo XIV, formerly Chicago-born Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, made headlines after a surprising moment on May 28 when he caught a cloth doll mid-air, thrown by a White Sox fan while riding in the popemobile. The doll was dressed like the pope during his first appearance at St. Peter’s Basilica.
While the one-handed catch impressed many and showcased his American flair, social media users quickly raised concerns about his security. “Adorable but his security is definitely slipping,” one person tweeted, with others echoing concerns about safety risks.
Since being welcomed on May 8, Pope Leo has called for peace in Ukraine, a ceasefire in Gaza, and praised a peace agreement between India and Pakistan. He also addressed the challenges posed by artificial intelligence, drawing parallels to Pope Leo XIII’s 1891 letter on the Industrial Revolution.
Pope Leo said the Church must respond to AI as it once did to industrialization, reaffirming its commitment to human dignity and justice. He praised Pope Francis for his humility and service, calling him an inspiration for modern leadership.
