Internet searches for the Catholic Church and newly elected Pope Leo XIV skyrocketed over the last week following the 2025 conclave.
Interest in the Catholic Church is high, with some sources reporting a 373 percent increase in web searches on “how to become Catholic” following the death of Pope Francis.
Then, the College of Cardinals elected Pope Leo XIV, who made history as the first American-born pope.
This monumental milestone in the life of the Catholic Church has made people curiously search for more information about the faith.
Father Leo Patalinghug, a Catholic priest, author, social media influencer, chef, and host of EWTN’s “Savoring Our Faith” affirmed with ChurchPOP that people “in the United States are searching the internet to learn as much about Pope Leo XIV as possible,” because “now we have a pope who was very American in many ways, but at the same time, he lived many years of his ministry in Peru.”
He encouraged Catholics to not only learn more about the new pope, but to pray for him.
“I think what we've got to do is pay attention to what we're watching on the internet and make sure that what we're learning isn't just simply information, but an opportunity for formation, changing our lives, becoming more configured to Christ because that's ultimately the message of Pope Leo the XIV.”
Here’s Father Leo Patalinghug’s video below:
Here’s the full text of Father Leo’s video:
“People around the world, but particularly in the United States, are searching the internet to learn as much about Pope Leo XIV as possible. I think because in the past, at least for Americans, popes have always seemed very distant, whether they be from a distant country or, or a different culture. But now we have a pope who was very American in many ways, but at the same time, he lived many years of his ministry in Peru.
“And so, he does kind of walk that line between familiar, but also somewhat mysterious.
“And I think it is important for people to learn as much about the Holy Father, because they obviously want to learn how he's going to take our Roman Catholic Church into these new and challenging times. And so, what can we do to support this Holy Father? Obviously, pray for him.
“But at the same time, make sure that you're seeking out good things on the internet. Make sure you're seeking out good content that's going to feed your faith in the most appropriate way. And at the same time, don't just listen to the words or watch videos, but maybe put the lessons and the teachings into practice, so that we're not just simply consumer of news, but rather we're incarnating the good news. And as Mom and Mother Church say, we are what we eat.
“So, I think what we've got to do is pay attention to what we're watching on the internet and make sure that what we're learning isn't just simply information, but an opportunity for formation—changing our lives, becoming more configured to Christ—because that's ultimately the message of Pope Leo the 14th.”
More Ways to Learn About the Holy Father: “Leo XIV: Portrait of the First American Pope”
EWTN Publishing will release the book “Leo XIV: Portrait of the First American Pope,” by EWTN News Vice President and Editorial Director Dr. Matthew Bunson, on May 21.
According to the EWTN Press release, Dr. Bunson’s book is "the first definitive biography available to readers worldwide.”
“Dr. Bunson delivers a compelling, richly textured narrative of the new pope’s life, background, beliefs, and most improbable journey to the Chair of St. Peter.”
“‘LEO XIV: Portrait of the First American Pope’ is essential reading for anyone seeking to understand the man inside the white cassock—and the moment in which he will reign.
“This engrossing look at his life and service to the Church thus far provides an assessment of his three fundamental roles as a successor to the apostles: his sanctifying role as a priest, his governing role as a bishop, and his prophetic role as a teacher and missionary.”
Here is a picture of “LEO XIV: Portrait of the First American Pope” by Dr. Matthew Bunson below:
