Pope Leo XIV: peacemaker from the US?
The Catholic Church has a new pope, Leo XIV, after the conclave elected Chicago-born Robert Francis Prevost, a cardinal with US and Peruvian citizenship, on the second day of voting yesterday. In his first address, Leo emphasised the importance of world peace. Commentators discuss his qualifications as leader of the Church - and to what extent an American in the Holy See can act as a counterweight to Donald Trump.
A militant pacifist and bridge builder
The church weekly Gość Niedzielny is delighted:
“In the coming years, we will have a Holy Father who will fight like a lion for peace in the world and in the Church. And he is ideally equipped for these battles, because he is rooted in tradition and at the same time familiar with the challenges of the present. He will build bridges, that is certain, to bring together church groups that are drifting apart and - if the world listens to him - nations that are embarking on the path of war. In a church whose unity is wavering and in which there is increasing talk of the danger of a schism, and in a world that increasingly fears the outbreak of a massive war, this is the kind of leader the Church needs.”
Finally someone with experience in management
The Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung points to one of the things that makes the new pope especially well qualified for the job:
“Experience in the management of globally active administrative apparatuses. As the former leader of a large male religious order and prefect of the Vatican Dicastery for Bishops, which is basically an HR department for Church leaders, he has the kind of expertise that a local bishop lacks. After three popes who were not particularly interested in the leadership apparatus, the Catholic Church urgently needs this. This is the only way to achieve sustainable reforms in the Catholic Church.”
He stands for a very different America
La Stampa is thrilled:
“He comes from an America whose existence we'd forgotten. An America that welcomes and does not reject. An America that cares about world peace - the first words spoken from the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica - and not just about its own security. ... It is by no means certain that the rulers waging war in Ukraine, Gaza, Sudan and now Kashmir will pay any more attention to him than they paid, or rather did not pay, to Pope Francis. But having an American who speaks from the Vatican about peace and is open to the world without regard for individual nations makes a huge difference in comparison with that other American in the White House.”
A good choice - also for his homeland
Deník takes a look at the significance of Leo XIV's being American:
“In today's America, where power is overly concentrated in Trump's hands, the new pope could play a role similar to that of John Paul II in communist Poland. ... Alongside Trump's absolutist approach in world affairs there is now a potential new counterweight. ... Because Christians believe that there is something that transcends the power of all earthly rulers. Including that of Donald Trump. ... In this respect, it was a good choice at the right time. For the United States and for the whole world.”
Better communication with Trump
Berlingske also comments on the new pope's country of origin:
“In any case, it was hardly a handicap for Prevost that he comes from the same country as the man who has turned the world upside down in recent months. Donald Trump's declared favourite for the post of new pope was New York's conservative archbishop, Timothy Dolan. But even if Leo XIV represents the Church's 'centre-left', he will probably communicate better with his unpredictable compatriot than most others. Among those candidates that were acceptable for both Francis's supporters and the more conservative forces it made sense to choose an American, since one was available.”
Wait and see what he says and does
Le Soir advises against pigeonholing:
“American? That's saying a lot for someone who spent most of his life outside the United States. Leo XIV is more of a globetrotting, cosmopolitan pope, given that his father was of French-Italian descent, his mother of Spanish origin and he spent 20 years of his life in Peru, which became his second home. Conservative? Progressive? The reign of Pope Francis has shown us that this label cannot be applied unilaterally: Francis was progressive in some areas and conservative in others. Leo XIV's past positions suggest that he will continue along this path, but we will only know for sure when we see what he says and does.”