Pope Leo XIV: tradition meets modernity

IF PEOPLE around the world were hoping newly elected Pope Leo XIV will be more outspoken on issues facing the world and go further than his predecessor Pope Francis, they may be disappointed as it is widely expected that he will remain conservative on Church doctrine and issues society is more progressive on.

- EDWIN LOMBARD

As leaders and organisations around the world congratulate Pope Leo XIV, formerly Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, all eyes will be on him as he traverses the world of Donald Trump, the genocide in Gaza, the Russia-Ukraine war and the many issues that society is grappling with.

Pope Leo XIV was elected on May 8, following Pope Francis’s death on Easter Monday, April 21. His election is historic, marking the first time a pontiff hails from the US. Born in Chicago, Pope Leo XIV has a rich background in missionary work, notably in Peru, and has served in significant roles within the Vatican, including as head of the Dicastery for Bishops.

Professor Dion Forster professor of Public Theology in the Faculty of Religion and Theology at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam and Professor Extraordinary in the Department of Systemic Theology and Ecclesiology in the Faculty of Theology at Stellenbosch University described Pope Leo as progressive. “But in general terms Catholic leaders tend to be more conservative on some of the issues that society is more progressive on. For example reproductive rights — abortion. The Catholic Church has a much more conservative view on that. On issues of human sexuality, like LGBTQ+ issues, they are far more conservative.”