Lester Kiewit speaks to Professor Mathew Schmalz, a global Catholicism scholar at the College of the Holy Cross in Cambridge, Massachusetts, about the transformative impact of Pope Francis’ leadership. Elected in 2013, Francis has reshaped the Catholic Church with a focus on the poor, inclusivity, and global outreach, championing migrants, LGBTQ+ rights, and women’s leadership while facing resistance from conservative factions.