Cardinal Robert Prevost was picked as Pope Francis’ follower on Thursday, taking the papal name Leo XIV. The globe is questioning just how the very first American pope contrasts to his precursor.
In his very first public comments, Pope Leo XIV required unity.
” We need to be a church that interacts to construct bridges and to maintain our arms open, similar to this really piazza, inviting,” he stated.
Freshly chosen Pope Leo XIV, Cardinal Robert F. Prevost of the united state, shows up on the terrace of St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican, Might 8, 2025.
Dylan Martinez/Reuters
The 69-year-old Chicago citizen, understood for being scheduled and personal, brings a various design to the papacy contrasted to his precursor, according to Time. While Francis was well-known for his outbound individuality and spontaneous communications with groups, Leo is defined by those that recognize him as even more careful and determined.
Prior to ending up being pope, Leo played a vital duty in the church, leading Francis’ group that selected brand-new diocesans. He made background by including 3 females to the team that suggests diocesan visits to the pope– a significant modification in church custom, according to the Associated Press.
Several Catholics are enjoying very closely to see just how Leo will certainly deal with vital problems that Francis promoted throughout his time as pope. Francis took dynamic placements on numerous problems, consisting of enabling Catholic clergymans to honor same-sex pairs in December 2023 and highly protecting immigrants’ legal rights.
The comparison in between both leaders’ designs is currently clear. While Francis was understood for true blessing infants and involving with groups up until his fatality last month, Leo supposedly takes a much more scheduled method.
” He does not have unwanteds,” the Rev. Michele Falcone informed the New York Times about Leo. “True blessing infants, yes. Taking them in his arms, no.”
LGBTQ+ problems and duty of females in the church
Leo’s previous declarations recommend he might take various placements on some social problems than his precursor did.
In 2012, he revealed worry concerning Western media advertising what he called “ideas and techniques that are at chances with the scripture,” consisting of same-sex connections, according to the Times. As a diocesan in Peru from 2015 via 2023, he opposed mentor sex researches in institutions, mentioning that “sex ideological background is puzzling, due to the fact that it looks for to develop sexes that do not exist.”
That shows up to note a separation from Francis’s even more inviting method to LGBTQ+ problems. Francis notoriously asked “That am I to evaluate?” when talking about gay clerics, and made headings with his choice to permit same-sex pair true blessings.
In various other locations, like females offering in management functions in the Catholic Church, Leo has actually taken a much more dynamic position.
In a 2023 meeting with Vatican Media, Leo XIV highlighted his experience with having females in church management, especially talking about the 3 females assigned to aid pick diocesans– a reform he supervised under Francis.
” Their viewpoint presents one more viewpoint and comes to be an essential payment to the procedure,” he informed Vatican Media, stressing that their functions stand for “actual, authentic, and purposeful involvement.”
Pope Francis welcomes the faithful in Vatican City.
Massimo Valicchia/NurPhoto using Getty Photos
Migration and therapy of travelers
Throughout his time in Peru, Leo made appreciation for sustaining Venezuelan immigrants, the Times reported.
Francis had actually been especially singing on this concern, lately condemning the Trump management’s expulsions of travelers in the united state after the head of state’s 2nd launch, calling it a “significant dilemma.”
In a meeting with ABC Information on Thursday, Pope Leo’s bro John Prevost mentioned his bro’s missionary job.
” I believe due to the fact that he was learnt missionary operate in South America for many years, I believe he will certainly be watching out for the powerless,” John Prevost stated. “He will certainly be watching out for the bad. He will certainly be watching out for those that do not have a voice.” John Prevost likewise stated migration is an essential concern for his bro.
” I believe due to the fact that the means our nation is going, I do not believe he always will constantly concur [with] what’s taking place. I believe a huge point for him is migration and is it right– what’s taking place? I believe that will certainly be a difficulty for him, due to the fact that I believe he’ll claim something concerning it, as well.”
Church sexual assault rumors
Concerns have actually arised concerning Leo XIV’s handling of misuse instances in both the united state and Peru. In Chicago, lobbyists elevated issues concerning his duty in a situation including an abbey positioning, the Times reported.
When talking about the continuous difficulty of sexual assault in the church, Leo recognized there is “still much to discover” in taking care of these instances. He worried the relevance of sustaining misuse targets, stating “silence is not the option” and stressed the requirement for openness.
” We need to be clear and sincere, we need to go along with and aid the targets, due to the fact that or else their injuries will certainly never ever recover,” Leo informed Vatican Media in 2023, including that social distinctions typically influence just how misuse instances are managed in various areas.
The brand-new pope’s extra current remarks show he intends to proceed resolving the misuse dilemma that has actually afflicted the church, while preserving the reforms began under Francis’ management, though with his classically extra determined method.
Management design
Those that recognize Robert Prevost prior to he ended up being Pope Leo XIV explain his interaction design as even more determined than Francis’, the Times reported.
” Where Francis could promptly talk his mind, Cardinal Prevost holds himself back a little bit,” the Rev. Precept Antón, that was successful Leo as leader of the Augustinian order, stated.
In spite of these distinctions stylishly, some anticipate Leo to keep specific facets of Francis’ heritage.
The Rev. Mark R. Francis, that understood Leo XIV as a schoolmate, informed the Times he thinks the brand-new pope will certainly proceed Francis’s technique of consisting of routine Catholics in church conversations.
” I recognize that Bob thinks that everyone has a right and a responsibility to share themselves in the church,” he stated.
