Michael Barbaro

Another way, perhaps, in which he is very much like Pope Francis. Yeah.

Well, just describe that. Francis bringing Prevost to Rome. That seems like a pretty important moment.

Well, just describe that. Francis bringing Prevost to Rome. That seems like a pretty important moment.

It sounds like you're saying Francis essentially entrusts Prevost with the future of the Catholic bureaucracy.

It sounds like you're saying Francis essentially entrusts Prevost with the future of the Catholic bureaucracy.

So clearly Francis played a big role in his rise. How much do his views genuinely overlap with those of Francis? You said a few moments ago that we don't really know his views on social issues the way we do know the views of Francis. But reading the tea leaves and his record, what do we know?

So clearly Francis played a big role in his rise. How much do his views genuinely overlap with those of Francis? You said a few moments ago that we don't really know his views on social issues the way we do know the views of Francis. But reading the tea leaves and his record, what do we know?

To end this conversation, Jason, I want to return to the subject of Pope Leo as being from America. And as you've made clear, he spends so much of his career outside of it. But What we know about Pope Francis is that he had such a rough time with the American Catholic Church. You made that so clear last time we spoke. He was endlessly frustrated with the conservative elements of the church.

To end this conversation, Jason, I want to return to the subject of Pope Leo as being from America. And as you've made clear, he spends so much of his career outside of it. But What we know about Pope Francis is that he had such a rough time with the American Catholic Church. You made that so clear last time we spoke. He was endlessly frustrated with the conservative elements of the church.

They tangled with them constantly. He ended up pushing a lot of them out of the church. They thought that he was going to ruin the church with some of his progressive viewpoints. If we believe that Pope Leo is in the mold of Pope Francis, do we think he's going to have those same battles with the conservative elements of the Catholic Church in the U.S.?

They tangled with them constantly. He ended up pushing a lot of them out of the church. They thought that he was going to ruin the church with some of his progressive viewpoints. If we believe that Pope Leo is in the mold of Pope Francis, do we think he's going to have those same battles with the conservative elements of the Catholic Church in the U.S.?

Or do we think because he spent so much time in America and grew up here... that he might have an easier time navigating those forces within the church. And at this point, I think we have to describe those forces as at times being aligned with conservative American political forces as well, like President Trump and J.D. Vance and Steve Bannon.

Or do we think because he spent so much time in America and grew up here... that he might have an easier time navigating those forces within the church. And at this point, I think we have to describe those forces as at times being aligned with conservative American political forces as well, like President Trump and J.D. Vance and Steve Bannon.

That's fascinating because earlier in this conversation, you suggested that for so long, the thinking was that there couldn't be so much power concentrated in America. And now we have a pope who wants to be a bridge to America, back home to America. That marks a really big change.

That's fascinating because earlier in this conversation, you suggested that for so long, the thinking was that there couldn't be so much power concentrated in America. And now we have a pope who wants to be a bridge to America, back home to America. That marks a really big change.

Thank you, Michael.

Thank you, Michael.

We'll be right back. Here's what else you need to know today. On Thursday, President Trump announced his first proposed trade deal since imposing tariffs on dozens of countries. The deal with the United Kingdom requires the U.K. to drop its tariffs on, among other products, U.S. beef, ethanol, and sports equipment, and to buy $10 billion worth of U.S.-made airplanes.

We'll be right back. Here's what else you need to know today. On Thursday, President Trump announced his first proposed trade deal since imposing tariffs on dozens of countries. The deal with the United Kingdom requires the U.K. to drop its tariffs on, among other products, U.S. beef, ethanol, and sports equipment, and to buy $10 billion worth of U.S.-made airplanes.

In return, the United States said it would roll back its tariffs on cars and steel, but would leave a 10% tariff in place for most British imports. It's unclear how much of a template the deal represents for future trade agreements. U.S. officials have been holding trade talks with India, Israel, Japan and South Korea.