The new pope, Robert Francis Prevost, who will forevermore be known as Leo XIV, was elected last week in only four ballots. Given the gravity of the times, with political instability rampant and wars raging around the globe, many were surprised at the relative speed of his election.
Even more were surprised that Leo XIV is an American who was born in Chicago and raised in Dalton, IL. How many times have we heard the talking heads claim that the College of Cardinals would never elect an American, given our standing in the world as the de facto superpower?
But not everyone was surprised. There are reports that he was a leading contender going into the conclave. John Henry Westen from Lifesite News published an article on Friday, May 9th (the day after the election) and stated,
“We got a heads up last week that Prevost was going to be the pick and therefore had a very extensive analysis of him published prior to the election.”
Haven’t we been told that the Cardinals are supposed to be guided by the Holy Spirit and discern the will of God in the seclusion of the conclave? If what Westen says is true, then Leo XIV might have already been hand-picked by Pope Francis as he was recently elevated to positions of influence and authority in the Vatican and was just made a Cardinal in 2023. However, there are other reports that the Prevost attended a “top secret summit” on April 30th in Cardinal Raymond Burke’s Rome apartment. Does this mean Leo XIV was hand-picked by the conservative wing?
With these conflicting scenarios playing out, everyone and his brother began formulating an opinion on our new pontiff based on his clothes and words as soon as Leo XIV appeared on the loggia in St. Peter’s Square. It went something like this…
He’s wearing the traditional red mozzetta – Good!
He wants to continue synodality – Bad!
He spoke of the Risen Christ – Good!
He expressed gratitude to Pope Francis – Bad!
He said the Hail Mary – Good!
He called for dialogue and building bridges – Bad!
He teared up as he prayed in Latin – Good!
He said nothing in English – Bad!
Then, internet sleuths got to work and provided even more commentary. Leo XIV had previously spoken out against abortion, euthanasia, gender ideology, homosexual lifestyles, and the ordination of women. He was rumored to say the Traditional Latin Mass (TLM) privately. He is a registered Republican in Illinois and has voted in primaries and general elections. These all seem promising.
On the other hand, as the Prefect of the Dicastery of Bishops, he was most likely instrumental in both the removal of Bishop Strickland of Tyler, Texas, and the appointment of liberal Cardinal McElroy to the Archdiocese of Washington, D.C. There are also indications that some abuse allegations were swept under the rug during his tenure as bishop in Peru. He also seemed to be in favor of the lockdowns and mandatory vaccinations during the pandemic, or at least did not dare to oppose them openly.
With all this conflicting information, no one knows what kind of pontificate this will be. We may be in for a long haul based on Leo XIV’s age of 69, as he could serve as many as twenty or more years. Many of the faithful have been so traumatized by the reign of Pope Francis that it may be difficult for them to trust his motives. Others who have recently joined the Church or have not been paying close enough attention to the chaos that ensued under Pope Francis might see Leo XIV as a transformational figure similar to John Paul II, as he seems confident, personable, relatable, has a sense of humor, and has an overall calming demeanor.
At this point, we all need to wait and see what the future will hold. We will eagerly watch to see who Leo XIV appoints to positions of authority and whose company he keeps. In the meantime, let us pray that, unlike his predecessor, he will uphold the teachings and doctrine of the Church, preserve our beautiful Catholic traditions, and be a voice of moral clarity.
Lord, source of eternal life and truth, give to your shepherd a spirit of courage and right judgment, a spirit of knowledge and love. By governing with fidelity those entrusted to his care, may he, as successor to the Apostle Peter and Vicar of Christ, build your Church into a sacrament of unity, love and peace for all the world. Amen.