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Article by Sergej Iwanaga (15.05.2025)
When white smoke rose from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel on May 8th 2025, the world knew a new pope was voted in by the Conclave: Cardinal Robert Francis Provost, now Pope Leo XIV.
Yet, I can't help but to look back at the late Pope Francis. Will Pope Leo XIV continue the legacy of Pope Francis, and how will he lead the Catholic Church?
The Catholic Church is one of the world's oldest existing religious institutions, with around 1.3 billion Catholics worldwide. Its seat is the Vatican City, a tiny part of the city of Rome in Italy. Still, its influence reaches far outside of its borders with believers all over the world.
The Pope is the bishop of Rome and thus the leading figure of the Catholic Church, believed to be the apostolic successor of Saint Peter. They are voted in by a small council of cardinals with a two-thirds majority, called the Conclave. Some may have seen a movie titled “Conclave” as well, with Ralph Fiennes playing the role of a cardinal during a turbulent gathering of the Conclave.
Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Argentina, made history in 2013 as the first Jesuit pope, the first from the Americas, and the first non-European pontiff in over a millennium. His papacy was marked by many controversies but many moments highlighting his focus on social justice, interfaith dialogue, humility and concern for the environment which he expressed in his work “Laudato Si”. He did try to live a modest lifestyle, for example choosing to live in the Casa Santa Marta rather than the usual lavish and splendid Apostolic Palace.
Perhaps his most controversial moment in office was his view on same-sex marriages. This already was a highly controversial topic of discussion in camps of the Catholic Church, but Pope Francis was determined to say something. In a 2020 documentary titled Francesco, Pope Francis expressed support for legal protections for same-sex couples, saying, "Homosexual people have a right to be in a family. [...] What we have to create is a civil union law.” This was met with criticism as well as praise all over the world, showing the Pope's support of social justice. Even though this one statement did not change Church doctrine, many traditional conservatives saw this as “dangerously” close to legitimising relationships which were contrary to Catholic moral teaching.
Now that Pope Leo XIV is stepping into the role of the Pope, many are asking themselves if the new pope will follow this precedent or forge a new direction for himself and the church. Cardinal Robert Francis Provost is an American by birth and a former missionary in Peru. He has experience in the global south, which gives him a unique perspective on the challenges facing the Church today.
However, observers note that his choice of the traditional name “Leo” may signal a return to more traditional theological roots, referencing Leo XIII or even the reformer Leo the Great. We did get a glimpse of his political views in his first-ever midday prayer. His “Never Again War” was a strong message to the world urging for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and a reunification of children with their families in Ukraine.
As pope Leo XIV begins his pontificate, he inherits not only the faith of 1.3 billion catholics but also a Church marked by renewal and division. All eyes now turn to his actions and to see if he will uphold the continuity of Francis’ vision.
Sources:
O'Malley, Katie. Pope Leo XIV Made History by Becoming First American Pontiff. Why Experts Are 'Surprised and Excited'. People, 8 May 2025, https://people.com/pope-leo-xiv-made-history-why-experts-surprised-excited-exclusive-11731257.
Haskell, Emily Jane. Pope Leo Calls for Peace and Aid in Gaza as Trump Sets Off to the Middle East. Vanity Fair, 9 May 2025, https://www.vanityfair.com/news/story/pope-leo-calls-for-peace-in-gaza-as-trump-sets-off-to-the-middle-east.
Rocca, Francis X. An American Pope Will Try to Unify a Divided Church. The Wall Street Journal, 8 May 2025, https://www.wsj.com/world/who-is-pope-leo-xiv-robert-prevost-1fa7b986.
Callahan, Barbie Latza Nadeau. New Pope Leo XIV Goes on Fiery Tweet Posting Spree. The Daily Beast, 9 May 2025, https://www.thedailybeast.com/new-pope-leo-xiv-goes-on-fiery-tweet-posting-spree.
Sherwood, Harriet. Ecstatic Crowds Hail Election of New Pope. The Guardian, 8 May 2025, https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/may/08/ecstatic-crowds-flood-st-peters-square-to-hail-election-of-new-pope.
Photos from the Election of Pope Leo XIV. TIME, 8 May 2025, https://time.com/7284004/robert-prevost-new-pope-leo-vatican-photos.
Francis. Laudato Si’: On Care for Our Common Home. Vatican.va, 24 May 2015, https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/encyclicals/documents/papa-francesco_20150524_enciclica-laudato-si.html.
Picheta, Rob. Pope Francis Endorses Same-Sex Civil Unions in New Documentary. The Christian Science Monitor, 21 Oct. 2020, https://www.csmonitor.com/World/2020/1021/Pope-Francis-endorses-same-sex-civil-unions-in-new-documentary.
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