ABC NEWS ANNOUNCES PRIMETIME SPECIAL ON THE HISTORIC ELECTION OF THE FIRST-EVER AMERICAN POPE ANCHORED BY ‘WORLD NEWS TONIGHT’ ANCHOR AND MANAGING EDITOR DAVID MUIR FROM ROME AIRING FRIDAY, MAY 9 ON ABC, AND STREAMING THE NEXT DAY ON ABC NEWS LIVE, DISNEY+ AND HULU

ABC News announced today a primetime special on the historic election of the first American pope, led by “World News Tonight” anchor and managing editor and “20/20” co-anchor David Muir from Rome. The one-hour special “The American Pope: Leo XIV – A Special Edition of 20/20,” airs FRIDAY, MAY 9 (9:01-10:01 p.m. EDT) on ABC and streams the next day on ABC News Live, Disney+ and Hulu.

As the world — including all of America — celebrates the newly chosen pope, Muir brings us inside the mystery of the conclave and the Sistine Chapel in the heart of the pope’s residence in Vatican City. The special also takes an in-depth look at the man who is now pope, including what direction the church may now take under his leadership.

Muir will be joined by ABC News Live “Prime” and “World News Tonight” weekend anchor Linsey Davis, senior national correspondent Terry Moran and chief international correspondent James Longman reporting from Rome, “20/20” co-anchor Deborah Roberts with a report from Philadelphia and correspondent Matt Rivers in Peru introducing viewers to Robert Francis Prevost, a former cardinal who will now lead the Catholic Church and its 1.4 billion followers around the world. From the first signs of white smoke and the elation when Pope Leo XIV first appeared on the Vatican balcony, the special traces his journey to the papacy from his childhood in Chicago, missionary work in Peru, his recent appointment to cardinal by Pope Francis and now his ultimate election to supreme pontiff.

The program also includes personal reflections from those who know him best, including his brothers who reveal how Pope Leo was called to the priesthood from a very young age, and additional reactions from around the world, including from Chicago with national correspondent Alex Perez and WLS-TV reporter Liz Nagy, in Philadelphia where he attended Villanova University, in Rome where Muir will lead a roundtable with contributors Father James Martin and Father John Wauck, as the newly elected pope begins shaping his legacy at a defining moment for the Catholic Church.

“The American Pope: Leo XIV – A Special Edition of 20/20,” is executive produced by Janice Johnston. Muriel Pearson serves as executive producer for ABC News Studios.

ABC News’ “20/20” is an award-winning primetime program anchored by David Muir and Deborah Roberts. A proven leader as a long-form newsmagazine for over 45 years, “20/20” features unforgettable, character-driven true-crime mysteries, exclusive newsmaker interviews, hard-hitting investigative reports, and in-depth coverage of high-profile stories.

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ABC News Media Relations
Jeannie Kedas
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Van Scott
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Bridgette Maney
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