When Pope Leo XIV surprised tens of thousands of young people at a recent Holy Year celebration with an impromptu popemobile romp around St. Peter’s Square, it almost seemed as if some of the informal spontaneity that characterized Pope Francis ’ 12-year papacy had returned to the Vatican.

An examination of Pope Leo's first 100 days reveals a Catholic leader eager to build bridges and unify conservatives and progressives.

On his 100th day as pope, Leo XIV made an urgent appeal for peace on Friday. "We must not resign ourselves to the logic of conflict and armed violence prevailing," the head of the Catholic Church said after leading the Angelus prayer in Castel Gandolfo,