Leo XIV

This past month, the Catholic Church said goodbye to the Holy Father, Pope Francis. His papacy reshaped how many understand humility, compassion, and justice within our faith. His passing marks the end of an era defined by outreach to the marginalized and a spirit of dialogue across differences. As an Irish Catholic, I am deeply connected to the faith through my family, but I am also committed to reform within Catholicism. I find myself reflecting on the moment we now enter.

On Thursday, the conclave ended at the Sistine Chapel. Cardinal Robert Prevost was elected as the 267th pontiff of the Catholic Church, taking the name Pope Leo XIV! Leo’s election was swift and concluded in a two-day conclave. His Holiness was born in Chicago and is also a Peruvian citizen. Pope Leo is the first American pope in the Church’s history. Pope Leo XIV, formerly Cardinal Robert Prevost, celebrated his first Mass on Friday in the Sistine Chapel, less than 24 hours after his election as the 267th pontiff.

Why haven’t we had an American pope before?

Traditionally, the idea of a pope from a global superpower, especially the United States, raised concerns. Many within the Church feared that electing an American pope could politicize the papacy or give disproportionate influence to U.S. geopolitics. The Church, as a spiritual and moral authority, has long strived to remain distinct from national interests. In many ways, the election of Pope Leo XIV, with his dual identity as both American and Latin American, may signal a move toward unity rather than dominance, and global rather than national leadership.

Pope Leo’s deep pastoral roots, forged through decades of missionary and episcopal work in Peru, suggest a leadership grounded in empathy, global awareness, and humility.

Leo inherits significant challenges, including Vatican budget issues, internal Church divisions over LGBT inclusion, the role of women, and a broader call for reform. His papacy begins amid a Holy Year as millions are expected to visit Rome. His formal inauguration will take place in St. Peter’s Square on May 18.

As Catholics, we face urgent questions:

How can the Church respond faithfully and courageously to a changing world?

How can we reconcile doctrine with the lived realities of LGBTQ+ Catholics?

When will women be allowed to fully serve in Church leadership, including the clergy?

Pope Leo XIV has a chance to lead with courage. In his first Mass, Leo warned of a world plagued by a loss of meaning, a crisis of the family, and violations of human dignity. If he takes these concerns seriously, then the inclusion of women, LGBTQ+ individuals, and marginalized communities must be at the heart of his papacy. His choice of the name “Leo” nods to Pope Leo XIII, remembered for championing social justice.

Where does he stand?

LGBTQ+

Pope Leo XIV is less progressive than Pope Francis on LGBTQ+ inclusion. Francis signaled a shift toward compassion, famously asking, “Who am I to judge?” and opening conversations on blessing same-sex couples. Leo has not yet shown the same openness. His record suggests caution and a preference for doctrinal stability over reform. But Catholics don’t live in doctrine alone. LGBTQ+ Catholics are part of our parishes, our families, our pews. A Church that refuses to affirm their dignity and worth alienates a generation seeking justice and authenticity.

Women in the Clergy

Pope Leo XIV’s opposition to ordaining women, what he refers to as “clericalizing women”, reaffirms the Church’s traditional stance. Perhaps the most telling signal of Leo XIV’s views on progress is his stance on women in the Church. In 2023, during the Synod on Synodality, he firmly rejected the ordination of women, saying:” The apostolic tradition is something that has been spelled out very clearly... It isn’t as simple as saying, ‘At this stage we’re going to change the tradition of the Church after 2,000 years.’” He cautioned against “clericalizing” women and suggested that the Church should not mirror broader societal structures. Clericalizing women” is a term used by some Church leaders to criticize the idea of simply solving gender inequality in the Church by ordaining women as priests (or giving them roles typically held by clergy). Cardinal Leo says that ordination (making women priests) isn’t the answer. He’s holding the line that women should not be part of the priesthood, which is consistent with longstanding Church doctrine. And while he has expressed support for women leading Vatican offices and participating in Church life “on many different levels,” the implication is clear that the priesthood remains a closed door.

As a young Catholic woman committed to justice, this position is painful. I believe in a Church that is capable of both deep tradition and radical transformation. I am proud of my faith and connection to my cultural roots, and also committed to questioning it, reforming it, and ensuring it never becomes a tool for exclusion.

While the Church must remain above partisan entanglements, it cannot be neutral in the face of injustice. Pope Leo XIV will need to walk the line between preserving global credibility and taking bold stances on political issues: war, climate crisis, racism, and gender discrimination.

Pope Leo XIV’s very identity as the son of a Peruvian immigrant and the first pope from the Americas stands in quiet yet direct contrast to the nativism and isolationism of the Trump administration. It is less typical for a Pope to align with strong political stances or to single out politicians by name. In a series of now-resurfaced tweets from 2017 to 2020, Pope Leo denounced the Trump administration’s family separation policy at the U.S.–Mexico border, referring to it as “a sin against the soul of humanity.” He tweeted solidarity with Dreamers, challenged the rollback of climate protections, and even quoted Scripture in response to the Muslim ban. The posts were not partisan, but pastoral. Leo’s election sends a signal that the Catholic Church is not aligning with the nationalist, anti-immigrant, and anti-poor rhetoric that defined the Trump era. He represents a return to the Church’s global and inclusive mission.

With gratitude,

Olivia