The pontiff broke the news to 'NBC Nightly News' anchor Lester Holt, a former CBS2 Chicago anchor, in a brief one-on-one chat at the Vatican on Monday. Leo says he's heard that people are coming back to the church as a result of an American being named pontiff.

He is a man formed by his experience in the church of Chicago, especially the south side,’ writes Mark Francis, CSV.

Some students on Monday said celebrating a hometown hero turned Holy Father — who also took the name Leo — proves that faith and service can take them anywhere. Shardaa Gray reports.