Pope Leo XIV
➡️ Pope Leo XIV - Head of the Catholic Church & Sovereign of the Vatican City
Robert Francis Prevost, at age 69 and the first-ever American, has become the 267th occupant of the throne of St Peter. Having spent much of his life in Peru working with marginalised communities, it is hoped that he will continue on the path of reform in the vein of his predecessor ➡️ Pope Francis.
His chosen papal name, Leo, has strong associations with social issues due to the legacy of Pope Leo XIII. The new Pope has previously expressed support for LGBTQI+ issues, climate action, and increased women's participation in the church.
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Pope Leo's Stance on Peace, Social Justice & Climate
Traditionally, popes developed the practice of choosing their papal name aligned with their aspirations and goals for their papacy. Many hope that Pope Leo XIV's choice signifies his commitment to social justice, following in the footsteps of Leo XIII. As the head of the Catholic Church from 1878 to 1903, Leo XIII, in his famous encyclical Rerum Novarum, laid the foundations for a more modern and socially conscious Church. It focused on improving workers' rights and strongly condemned capitalism and state-centric socialism.
Pope Leo XIV is the first member of the Augustinian order to be elected to the papacy. Augustinians follow the Rule of St. Augustine, a text which stresses the importance of 'common life' and living with an open heart and mind. Amongst some of the first missionaries, Augustinians embrace Catholicism as a global religion and are deeply concerned with political and economic injustices.
Pope Leo XIV & Social Justice
Giving great hope for unity and inclusivity, in his first speech as pontiff, Leo said:
"We have to be a church that works together to build bridges and to keep our arms open."
Pope Leo has been described by many as a peace-seeking bridge builder. He has expressed deep concern for the plight of migrants and is an open critic of Trump's harsh immigration policies. In the U.S., he has also made his views clear on the death penalty and the lack of action on gun reform.
Historically, Pope Leo has kept a low profile on LGBTQI+ issues such as gay marriage. Last year, he neither endorsed nor rejected blessings for same-sex couples. Still, his call for more inclusivity has given many hope that he will follow in the liberal and progressive steps of his predecessor, Pope Francis.
On abortion, he reaffirmed his stance on unborn children who should be granted inherent dignity as creations of God. It is, however, unclear what his views are on other reproductive health concerns.
In 2023, Leo highlighted the important roles that women can play in the church. Regarding greater inclusion, he admits that it is still a "work in progress". In his first curial appointment of a top-level official, Pope Leo named a religious sister, Tiziana Merletti, in a sign that he will continue elevating women's positions.
In one of his first speeches, Pope Leo addressed the importance of press freedom and the protection of journalists. He called for the release of imprisoned journalists and a greater commitment to the truth. At a recent meeting with media professionals, he urged the news media to "foster peace and disarm words".
During his time in Peru, Pope Leo was revered for his commitment to the poor and marginalised. He has pledged to align himself with "ordinary people" and to stand against the rich and powerful.
Pope Leo XIV & Climate
Declaring that the world is in the grips of a "global climate emergency" in one of his first speeches sent an important message to world leaders and the fossil fuel industry. Pope Leo has long drawn a connection between poverty and pollution, water scarcity, and climate-driven disasters. He has spoken out about our moral imperative to implement both environmental and anti-poverty measures to address the disproportionate effects that climate change has on the poor.
On renewable energy, he has pressed fossil fuel companies to embrace the green energy transition and promoted investment in clean energy. He has also criticised leaders for their lack of action and urged them to act on their words.
A key component of Catholic Social Thought is that humans are stewards, and it is our responsibility to protect our planet for future generations. Pope Leo promotes the idea of active stewardship, rooted in moral responsibility rather than political or corporate grounds.
Pope Leo XIV & Peace
At his inauguration, Pope Leo marked the start of his papacy with a call for unity within the Catholic Church and beyond. He vowed to make 'every effort' for world peace and offered the Vatican as a mediator in global conflicts.
He is committed to fostering a culture of dialogue, particularly among warring nations, and he stressed the importance of international relations. He encourages us to avoid simplistic and divisive notions of good and evil, with the underlying message that our neighbours are not our enemies but human beings.
The Pope has specifically emphasised the urgency of achieving long-lasting peace and ceasefire in Ukraine, Gaza, Kashmir, and Sudan.
"War is never inevitable. Weapons can and must be silenced, for they do not resolve problems but only increase them. Those who make history are the peacemakers, not those who sow seeds of suffering" - Pope Leo XIV
Author: Rachael Mellor 27.05.25 licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
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