What the pope says and does affects how Christianity is perceived globally—and that includes how the world understands evangelicals.
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On May 8, 2025, the Catholic Church announced the election of a new pope. American-born Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost is now Pope Leo XIV, the head of the Catholic Church and spiritual leader to more than a billion Catholics worldwide. He’ll wield significant influence as the 267th pontiff, guiding Roman Catholic teaching and engaging with global issues.
But why should evangelicals care about the new pope? As Chris Castaldo has said, “Whether we like it or not, the pope is, in a certain (global) sense, the single most significant Christian voice in the world.” What the pope says and does will affect how Christianity is perceived globally—and that includes how the world understands evangelical Christians.
