The Sat Report: Leo XIV, Habemus Papam
Some brief initial thoughts on the first American Pope
On paper the Cardinals have made a great choice; a Mathematics major, an alum of the Angelicum with a doctorate in Canon law, Augustinian friar, and missionary in Peru. That he is able to speak English will help the Church navigate the world of the Third Millennium no end. That he is American is a significant moment in world history, and should not be underestimated. He is also the first Pope to have operated his own personal twitter account. The poor man is a White Sox fan though. Nobody is perfect.
At Mass this morning offered for the Church at the conclusion of the Conclave, His Holiness delivered an impressive Christ-centred, and what can be described as an anti-modernist sermon. If this first sermon is anything to go by Leo XIV is going to be a great pope. Here it is in full. Please do read it. Here is an excerpt that I found particularly moving:
“Even today, there are many settings in which the Christian faith is considered absurd, meant for the weak and unintelligent. Settings where other securities are preferred, like technology, money, success, power, or pleasure.
These are contexts where it is not easy to preach the Gospel and bear witness to its truth, where believers are mocked, opposed, despised or at best tolerated and pitied. Yet, precisely for this reason, they are the places where our missionary outreach is desperately needed. A lack of faith is often tragically accompanied by the loss of meaning in life, the neglect of mercy, appalling violations of human dignity, the crisis of the family and so many other wounds that afflict our society.
Today, too, there are many settings in which Jesus, although appreciated as a man, is reduced to a kind of charismatic leader or superman. This is true not only among non-believers but also among many baptized Christians, who thus end up living, at this level, in a state of practical atheism.
This is the world that has been entrusted to us, a world in which, as Pope Francis taught us so many times, we are called to bear witness to our joyful faith in Christ the Saviour. Therefore, it is essential that we too repeat, with Peter: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God”.”
Just as quickly as one Pontificate ends, another beings. Our Holy Father already has a jammed packed schedule. The first big test will be his press conference with journalists on Monday, May 12th. It will be helpful for him to answer the criticism of his handling of clerical sexual abuse allegations in Chicago and Peru. This will also help set the tone for his Pontificate, and in particular gauge what sort of relationship he will have with the secular media.
In other engagements, on Saturday, the Pope meets with the entire College of Cardinals, before addressing the faithful again on Sunday for his first Regina Caeli address, unusually from the the central loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica. On Friday May 16th, Leo XIV meets with the ambassadors and diplomatic corps accredited to the Holy See. On Sunday May 18th he will celebrate Mass in St. Peter’s Square for the Inauguration of his Petrine Ministry, receiving the Pallium and Fisherman’s ring. On Tuesday May 20th, he will take possession of the Papal Basilica of St. Paul Outside-the-Walls. Wednesday May 21st, he will hold his first General Audience. Saturday May 24th, he will meet with the entire Roman Curia. On Sunday May 25th, he will take possession of the Papal Basilica of St. Mary Major, and of his Cathedral, the Papal Archbasilica of St. John Lateran.
Now briefly, some of my initial impressions. I think for all the great qualities Pope Francis had, a lover of Jesus Christ and Our Blessed Mother, a profound care for the poor and the migrant, he had deep personality flaws that hindered his Pontificate. He was stubborn; the Chile abuse victims, Zanchetta, and Rupnik. He was impatient; the rushed Synodality. He lacked the humility to take advice from people outside of his small circle of papal-pleasing yes-men. He resented criticism, even of the most respectful kind. He could be vindictive.
Leo XIV, on the other hand, is a more reasonable man. He has the humility and temperament fitting of a Pope. I believe he will bring stable and competent leadership back to Rome. I think the priest bashing, name-calling, and rash decisions of the last Pontificate are a thing of the past. The Cardinals have chosen a man who could unify the Church that has been divided for far too long. Instead of the stupid, petty infighting that has dominated ecclesial life for the last 60 years, let us proclaim the Truth and spread the Gospel to the ends of the earth. The Church is the only boat of salvation. We are the only true religion. We must not be ashamed to proclaim this. That was certainly the message I got from the Pope as he addressed the crowds in St. Peter’s Square yesterday, and in his homily to the Cardinals this morning.
The humility Leo XIV showed by donning the mozetta and stole on the central loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica, are indicators of the direction of travel. The Carnival that Pope Francis announced as over, is so back. His name is also significant. Leo XIII has a great unifying Pope. Leo II anathematized his predecessor Pope Honorius I, as a heretic. Leo X excommunicated the archheretic Martin Luther. Leo IV fought the Arab invaders of Europe. What this all means, time will tell. I am hopeful.
His Pontificate will be shaped by who he chooses for positions of leadership in the Roman Curia. Personnel is key. Who he chooses to lead the Secretariat of State, the Governorate of the Vatican City State, in a dire financial predicament, and the Doctrine of the Faith, will be key. The poor governance on matters of doctrine and law, that have been the norm for past 12 years, must not be repeated. The dicastery for Communication needs reform, and as many on twitter have postulated, Bishop Robert Barron is the man for the job. Who he chooses to lead prominent dioceses around the world will also affect the Church. In America alone New York, Chicago and Los Angeles, will all have new Metropolitan Archbishops soon.
The Synodality will move forward, probably not at the frantic pace of Francis, and it will probably work, precisely because it isn’t being rushed. If it not the way to address the problems in the Church, then I am certain that Leo XIV will change course. He is an intellegent man, a man of dialogue, who truly listens. He is going to be the Pope for a very long time, he will certainly leave a lasting impact on the Church.
The Church is in good hands.
One thing to remember about synodality is that since Francis never actually articulated what it meant, it can be whatever Leo wants it to mean.
Continuity is not defined by the past, but by the present. Something Francis wanted to use with great effect but ultimately couldn't. We may (or may not!) find out if his successor understands that better than others.