Pope Leo

Lesson made on May 11, 2025

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Reading Lesson:

Pope Leo XIV was born as Robert Prevost in 1955 in Chicago, Illinois. On May 8, 2025, he made history by becoming the first American pope. This means he is now the leader of the Roman Catholic Church, which has 1.4 billion followers around the world. He took over after Pope Francis and chose the name “Leo XIV” to honor a past pope who showed compassion by helping others.

As a young boy, Leo grew up on the South Side of Chicago with two brothers. His parents were both educators, and he went to a special high school for boys who wanted to become priests. After high school, he studied math in college and then joined a religious group called the Augustinians, who focus on community, education, and service.

After becoming a priest, Leo went to Peru to do missionary work. He lived in Peru for many years and later became a citizen of that country. Later, he returned to Chicago and took on leadership roles. In 2023, Pope Francis chose Leo to help pick new church leaders around the world. That same year, he became a cardinal, which meant he was one of the top church leaders.

Leo is known for caring about social justice and standing up for people in need. He is a strong advocate for the poor and believes in treating everyone with fairness and respect. Although he hasn’t said much about some big topics, like allowing women to have bigger roles in the church or blessing same-sex couples, many people believe he will be thoughtful and open to discussion.

Comprehension Quiz:

1. Pope Leo shows compassion by helping others. What does “compassion” mean?

a) A way to earn money
b) care for someone who is suffering
c) A rule in the church
d) A type of job in the government

2. He is a strong advocate for the poor. What does “advocate” mean?

a) A person who supports and speaks for a cause
b) Someone who disagrees with helping others
c) A person who works for the court
d) Someone who gives advice to rich people

3. What is the main idea of the article?

a) Religion is very important in the lives of many people
b) The history of the Roman Catholic Church
c) Pope Leo XIV’s background and how he became the pope
d) Pope Leo XIV is from the South Side of Chicago

4. Which of these statements is false?

a) Pope Leo XIV was born in Chicago.
b) He worked as a missionary in Peru.
c) He was chosen as a cardinal in 2023.
d) He became pope immediately after graduating high school.

5. Why did Pope Leo XIV take the name “Leo XIV”?

a) It was his father’s name
b) He wanted a short name
c) He wanted to honor a peaceful and kind pope
d) It is the name of his favorite saint

6. What does the article suggest about Pope Leo XIV’s future decisions?

a) He will not make any changes
b) He will ban immigration
c) He may be open to discussing difficult topics
d) He has already made every decision

7. What is one reason we know Leo XIV cares about social justice?

a) He was once a lawyer
b) He worked with poor communities in Peru
c) He grew up in the royal family
d) He owned many businesses

8. What might be difficult for Pope Leo XIV as a leader?

a) Learning to speak English
b) Deciding what to wear each day
c) Deciding which country to live in
d) Talking about sensitive topics in the church

9. Why is it important that Pope Leo XIV is American?

a) It shows the church is becoming more global
b) It means the church is moving to Chicago
c) It means only Americans can be pope
d) He will have power to control the US Senate

10. What can we learn from Leo XIV becoming a citizen of Peru?

a) He didn’t care about his American roots
b) He felt connected to the people and culture there
c) He lost his job in the U.S.
d) He was forced to move by the church

Speaking and Writing Activities:

– Discuss these questions with a partner or a small group.

– Choose one topic and write a response to it. Show your writing to a classmate or teacher.

1. Have you ever helped someone in need? How did it make you feel?

2. If you could ask Pope Leo XIV one question, what would it be? Why?

3. Pope Leo cares about social justice. What are some problems in the world today that need attention?

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