In Need of a Shepherd: Pope Leo XIV, a Church in Flux, and Our Desire for Moral Leadership

Photo by Catholic Church (England and Wales) on Flickr

Pope Leo XIV, born Robert Francis Prevost, holds a series of firsts in the history of the Catholic Church. 

He becomes the first pontiff born after World War II, the first Augustinian to ascend the throne of Saint Peter, the first pope from the United States and also the first native English speaker since Adrian IV (r. 1154–1159).  His election not only broadens the geographic reach of the papacy but disrupts the traditional Eurocentric dominance of Catholic leadership.

Leo holds dual US and Peruvian citizenship, the latter secured after decades of pastoral work in Peru, where he spent ten years heading Trujillo’s Augustinian seminary, teaching canon law at the diocesan seminary, serving as prefect of studies, acting as judge in the regional ecclesiastical court, and ministering in parishes on the city’s margins. 

Robert Francis Prevost intentionally chose the papal name Leo XIV to align with the values of Pope Leo XIII (r. 1878– 1903), who is known as the architect of modern Catholic social teaching. Pope Leo XIII helped the Catholic Church grapple with the post-industrial revolution world, advocating for workers’ rights and fair wages, encouraging labour unions and defending the working class.

Another surprise election

The election of Pope Leo XIV came as a surprise to many across the world, with betting markets (yes, there were a lot of papal betting markets) only putting his chances at around 1-2% at best. World leaders reacted to his election with messages on social media.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called the pope’s first words “a powerful call for peace, fraternity, and responsibility.”

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said he hoped the Holy See could strengthen dialogue and human rights, while Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis underscored the “profound challenges” the world faces and the pope’s potential as a unifying force. 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy highlighted the Vatican’s continued support in the face of Russian aggression, stating: “Ukraine deeply values the Holy See’s consistent position in upholding international law… and protecting the rights of innocent civilians.”

U.S. President Donald Trump praised the election as “a great honor for our country” and expressed excitement at meeting the first American pontiff.

Vice President JD Vance added that “millions of American Catholics and other Christians will pray for his successful work leading the Church.”

American body, global soul: the theology of Pope Leo XIV ‘s Augustinian roots

Before being nominated as a cardinal, Prevost served as the Prior-General of the Order of St Augustine (O.S.A.). This Augustinian formation is likely to have a significant influence on the theological orientation of his papacy. 

The O.S.A. are a mendicant order of the Catholic Church, and they are inspired primarily by the writings and life of St Augustine of Hippo. Augustinians are required to take a vow of poverty to better serve the Church. As part of the Rule of St. Augustine, Augustinians are endowed with a unique mission of spreading peace and reducing conflict where possible. In his first Urbi et Orbi blessing, Pope Leo XIV called for a “disarming” peace, signifying that efforts to promote and maintain peace will be a cornerstone of his pastoral approach, demonstrating the influence of his Augustinian formation. 

His experiences as a teacher and bishop among marginalised communities in Peru will influence his pastoral approach. As a bishop in the Diocese of Chiclayo, he was renowned for his uniquely personal relationships with the faithful. It was reported that he would engage with his faithful in a more personal manner as opposed to other bishops. His style of leadership recalls the famous words of St Augustine of Hippo, who memorably stated in a sermon that, “for you I am a bishop; with you I am a Christian,” capturing the servant leadership style that will likely define the pontificate of Leo XIV. However, his leadership, both in Peru and Chicago, are far from without its controversies, with accusations of failing to discipline church members accused of abuse, and unlike other orders or dioceses, failing to publish a list of accused abusers under his jurisdiction.

 Photo by Catholic Church (England and Wales) on Flickr

To be (Francis), or not to be? 

Pope Leo XIV’s pontificate is expected to reflect continuity with the socio-political theology of Francis, centred on pastoral outreach.

Before his ascendance to the throne of St Peter, Provost had expressed socially conservative views. For instance, in 2012, he labelled “homosexual lifestyle” and abortion as being “at odds with the gospel”. Whilst he hasn’t explicitly renounced his prior views, since being made a cardinal in 2023, his social views have likely shifted to be in line with the views of Pope Francis. Given his 2023 statement in agreement with the late pope’s views and actions towards various social groups, as well as his first speech as pope where he acknowledged Francis’ efforts to welcome people to the Church, it is reasonable to assume that Leo XVI will pursue a progressive social agenda, both doctrinally and pastorally.

It has been made authoritatively clear that synodality, that is, ‘walking together’ in Christ and making the Church more inclusive, will remain the norm in the post-Francis church. In his first address to the College of Cardinals, Leo made clear that the Church would continue to uphold the doctrine of the Second Vatican Council, and that the steps taken towards synodality would continue under his papacy. This suggests the efforts to expand the participation of the faithful, particularly the ‘peripheral’ faithful within the church, will continue. Despite being part of the Church’s magisterium for over five decades, there has been much opposition towards embracing it fully, even by previous popes, such as Benedict XVI. Therefore, upholding the teachings of the Council amounts to a somewhat revolutionary stance within the Church, suggesting that Leo XIV will be a progressive, reformist pope.

A reformer? A diplomat? A philosopher? An advocate?

Following the first week of Pope Leo’s papacy, many within and outside Catholicism still feel unclear about what the new Leonine Church’s role will be in a world in flux, particularly compared to the Franciscan consensus. 

LGBTQIA+ Catholics and their allies across the world, from the New Ways Ministry in Maryland, USA, to Parish Youth Ministry members at Imus Cathedral, Philippines, express hope that Pope Leo will continue and expand upon the Franciscan doctrine’s more inclusive approach, but also express concern given his previous comments. Similar sentiments exist from abuse victim advocates, with hope that, now as pontiff, he will be more attentive and proactive in cracking down on abuse cases.

A further example of this can be seen in the Church’s position on Gaza. Mere days before his passing, the Pope’s nightly calls to the Church of the Holy Family parish in besieged Gaza went viral. At the Easter Mass, the day before he died, Pope Francis pleaded to the world for a lasting ceasefire. George Antone, the Church’s spokesperson, says the parish ‘hopes that [Pope Leo’s] heart’ will remain in Gaza, and in his very first Sunday Mass address, the Pontiff reiterated his predecessor’s call for a ‘Gaza ceasefire’.

Gaza is far from the only crisis afflicting the world at the moment, which will put the new pope’s role as one of the world’s most powerful diplomats to the test. There exists strong evidence for the importance of papal diplomacy historically, particularly in areas where it is perceived they have moral authority. Given the outbreak of conflict in Kashmir between India and Pakistan, with a US-mediated ceasefire seeming to have fallen through just hours after having been struck, and ongoing atrocities in Sudan, Myanmar, and the Congo, the ability of Pope Leo XIV to wield his office to help achieve the peace he calls for may be his ultimate test.

Which brings us neatly to an area where the Pope is likely to have a vital role: the United States. Despite the congratulatory tweets offered by both Vance and Trump, Pope Leo XIV has called out their administration’s very limited scope of Christian love. While the Pope will be unlikely to directly intervene in national politics, his status as a critic of Trump and Vance while a cardinal may mean that his most important role on the global stage will be an American with moral authority, acting as an alternative to the MAGA movement.

But being the pope is a deeply different role from being a cardinal, and on many of these issues, both the faithful and the rest of the world may need to wait to see what this new Leonine church will be.

Peace

The Papacy has a unique role on the global stage as the representative of a unique institution. A body that crosses borders and yet has them, is both more than an institution but deeply tied to the flaws of one. Being pope puts an individual into a role of contradictions. But some remain hopeful, with United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres welcoming the election of Pope Leo XIV, hailing his leadership as both timely and significant for peace against the current global climate.

“The election of a new Pope is a moment of profound spiritual significance for millions around the world,” Guterres said.

“It comes at a time of great global challenges. Our world needs the strongest voices for peace, social justice, human dignity, and compassion,” he said.

But a world that looks towards a religious figure of a deeply flawed institution, and wants to see a saviour to bring us out of dark times, maybe says more about us than it ever said about him.