Pope Leo XIV is expected to continue the legacy of his predecessor in upholding environmental preservation and service of the world’s poor and suffering populations.
You will find one in five American adults as Catholic, the number has been stable since 2014 according to the Pew Research Center.
Also Read: Potential Criticism Surrounding Pope Leo XIV
In Chicago, the hometown of the new pope, the number is even higher, where nearly one in three people in the metropolitan area identify as Catholic.
Who is Pope Leo XIV?
Hours before Leo XIV name was announced as Pope from the balcony of ST Peter’s Basilica, the crowds below were chanting “Long live the Pope”
Robert Prevost, 69, will be known as Leo XIV, is the 267th occupant of the throne of St Peter.
He is the first American to be so distinguished with the office of Pope. He is also a cardinal of Latin America due to the years he spent serving as a missionary in Peru, prior to being appointed bishop there.
Prevost was born in Chicago in 1955 to parents of Spanish and Franco-Italian descent, he served as an altar boy and was ordained as a priest in late 1982.
He moved to Peru three years later, but he never left his service as a pastor and a priest in his home city in the US.
He served for 10 years as a parish pastor locally and as a seminary teacher in Trujillo in northwestern Peru.
In his inaugural utterances as Pope, Leo XIV fondly referred to his predecessor Francis.
“We still have in our ears the faint but always brave voice of Pope Francis who blessed us,” he added.
“United and hand in hand with God, let us go forward together,” he exclaimed to the throngs of supporters.
He recalled his position in the Augustinian Order. He traveled to Peru at the age of 30 as a member of Augustinian Order.
He was appointed Bishop of Chiclayo in Peru one year after Francis was elected Pope.
He is familiar to cardinals due to his prominent position as prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops in Latin America that has the crucial responsibility of appointing and overseeing bishops.
He was also ordained as archbishop simultaneously in January 2023 and Francis made him a cardinal within several months.
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Since 80% of the cardinals who participated in the conclave were appointed by Francis, it is not particularly surprising that someone such as Prevost was chosen, even if he had just been named.
What are Pope Leo’s views?
He will be counted among the champions of Francis’ reforms in the Catholic church.
Prevost’s opinions on migrants, the poor and the environment are thought to have been the same as Francis’.
His old roommate, Reverend John Lydon, described Prevost as “outgoing, down to earth and very concerned with the poor”.
Even though Prevost is an American, and he will be well aware of the rifts in the Catholic Church, his Latin American background is continuity, after a Pope from Argentina.
The Vatican referred to him as the second from the Americas after Pope Francis, and the first Augustinian pope.
Even while in Peru he could not avoid the sexual abuse scandals which have shrouded the Church but his diocese staunchly denied he had been in any struggling to hide up.
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Prior to the conclave, Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said that in conversations of the College of Cardinals prior to the conclave they desired a pope with a “prophetic spirit able to guide a Church that does not close in on itself but knows how to go out and shed light on a world characterized by despair”.
Potential Criticism Surrounding Pope Leo XIV
Among official honors and grassroots movements Pope Leo XIV is not without potential criticism around him.
While it is way too early even in the papacy of Leo XIV, let me bring five potential avenues of criticism/controversy already arising:
1. Clerical Sex Abuse Handling:
Subjected to criticism for its handling of previous instances of sex abuse, his Augustinian religious order, from which it was severed before its consecration as a bishop, has come under criticism.
Survivor activists have also voiced discontent about his past on abuse charges, especially when he was the head of the Augustinian order as well as in Peru. The Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP) has been particularly specific about having concerns about how he handled accusations against an American priest.
Even if it was stated byLeo XIV, that the Church cannot refuse from the heart of victims of abuse and bishops are obliged to tread abuse out, his position and behaviour towards this vital issue will be watched.
2. LGBTQ+ Issue Views
Previous statements he made as a Peruvian bishop have not sat well with LGBTQ+ activists. He cited opposition by saying that this schools-based instruction oversimplifies and raises “genders which don’t exist. ”
He also blamed the Western media for creating sympathy for “homosexual lifestyle” and “alternative families of same-sex couples and their adopted children”.
We do not know what evolution of his views might have produced, particularly in the light of current changes in the church towards greater toleration. His position over the blessing of gay unions will be a big litmus test.
3. Political Comments and Social Profiles on the Internet.
Before becoming Pope, he posted comments on other social media platforms and declared his opposition to the Trump administration, specifically on immigration.
While his social justice concern fits the tradition of Pope Leo XIII (whose name he had) and Pope Francis, his vocal political statements may make him vulnerable to those who think that the Pope should be unpolitical.
4. Continuity and Change:
His early words and the choice of papal regalia proffer a sense that he wants to take a center position between liberal Pope Francis’ route and conventional powers in the Church.
Balancing these opposing forces and being independent of quarrels within the multifaith global Catholic Church will be a massive challenge as well as an likely subject of criticism from some around.
The age of Pope is starting and further statements and actions that he will make in the future will mold opinions and – possibly – any possible common criticism.
Final Words:
Pope ‘s election as the first American Pope signals a potential continuation of Francis’ reformist path, particularly concerning social justice and the environment, given his Latin American experience. However, past stances on abuse and LGBTQ+ issues, along with his political comments, may draw scrutiny as he navigates the complexities of leading the global Catholic Church.
Here are some frequently asked questions (FAQ) based on the article:
Q: Who is Pope Leo XIV?
A: Pope Leo XIV is Robert Prevost, a 69-year-old American who is the 267th Pope of the Catholic Church. He is the first American to hold this position.
Q: Where was He born?
A: He was born in Chicago, USA.
Q: What is His background?
A: He has a strong connection to Latin America, having served as a missionary in Peru for many years and later becoming a bishop there. He also served as prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops in Latin America. He belongs to the Augustinian Order.
Q: What are his expected views?
A: He is expected to continue the reforms of Pope Francis, particularly regarding environmental preservation, serving the poor, and supporting migrants.
Q: What are some potential criticisms of Pope Leo ?
A: Potential criticisms include his past handling of clerical sex abuse cases, his previous statements on LGBTQ+ issues, and his past political comments on social media.
Q: Was Pope a cardinal before becoming Pope?
A: Yes, he was made a cardinal by Pope Francis.
Q: Is Pope the first non-European Pope?
A: No, Pope Francis, his predecessor, was from Argentina, making Leo XIV the second Pope from the Americas. He is the first Augustinian Pope.
Q: What was Pope Leo XIV’s profession before becoming Pope?
A: He served as a priest, a parish pastor, a seminary teacher, and a bishop before being appointed as an archbishop and then a cardinal.
Q: How is Pope Leo XIV connected to Pope Francis?
A: Pope Francis appointed him as Bishop of Chiclayo, then as an archbishop, and later as a cardinal. Pope Leo XIV has also expressed admiration for his predecessor.