Where does Pope Leo XIV stand on key problems like sexual abuse, local weather and poverty?

What is the location of Pope Leo XIV at the problems that face him and the Roman Catholic church?

Church solidarity

Within hours of his election because the 267th pontiff, Leo used to be being mentioned as a bridge builder, a pope that might proceed in Francis’s footsteps however with out alienating traditionalists in the way in which his predecessor now and again did. He is “known for solid judgment and a keen capacity to listen, and someone who doesn’t need to pound his chest to be heard”, consistent with a contemporary profile on Crux, a Catholic information site. He is “more pragmatic, cautious and discreet than the late pope”, it added.

In his first look at the balcony of St Peter’s Basilica, he wore conventional papal apparel, signalling that his taste shall be extra formal than Francis’s, who opted for a easy white cassock for his first balcony look.

Although he’s anticipated to apply Francis in lots of respects, he’s most likely to take action in a extra emollient means than his predecessor. In his opening remarks as pontiff, Leo mentioned: “We have to be a church that works together to build bridges and to keep our arms open.” He will you have to be an emblem of better solidarity within the church.

Nevertheless some conservative cardinals and bishops in america would possibly bridle at his previous criticisms of Donald Trump and his inclination against a modern, inclusive place. One of Trump’s maximum outstanding Catholic allies, Steve Bannon, referred to as Leo the “worst pick for Maga Catholics”, deeming him the “anti-Trump pope”.

In his years running in Peru, Leo – then Robert Prevost – got a name as a moderating affect a number of the nation’s ideologically disparate bishops. He will want to draw on that to carry in combination the other factions of the worldwide church.

Social justice, local weather and peace

Leo’s theology is concentrated at the deficient and marginalised, following his predecessor’s priorities. He has been crucial on social media of harsh immigration insurance policies. As pontiff, his language is predicted to be much less confrontational than Francis’s, however he’s prone to endorse the similar priorities somewhat than search to roll again the overdue pope’s legacy.

One indication is his view at the function of bishops, expressed whilst serving as head of the Vatican’s ultra-powerful Dicastery for Bishops for the previous two years. A bishop is “not supposed to be a little prince sitting in his kingdom but rather called authentically to be humble, to be close to the people he serves, to walk with them and suffer with them”, he instructed Vatican News ultimate yr.

Leo has spoken out at the want for pressing motion at the local weather disaster, aligning with Francis’s environmental priorities. He has wired the church should transfer “from words to action” and warned in opposition to the “harmful” penalties of unchecked technological building. “Dominion over nature” will have to no longer transform “tyrannical”, he mentioned ultimate yr. It should be a “relationship of reciprocity”.

Leo is predicted to wish the Vatican’s diplomats to be concerned with efforts to finish conflicts, mainly in Ukraine, Gaza and South Sudan. His first phrases as pontiff to the arena had been “peace be with you all” and he referred to as for “a disarmed peace and a disarming peace”.

Sexual abuse

Prevost used to be accused of “disregarding allegations” of abuse in opposition to two clergymen in Peru, and has “a history of resisting disclosure of abuse information to the public”, consistent with the survivors’ organisation BishopAccountability.

Over the previous two years, when he headed the Dicastery for Bishops, he oversaw circumstances of bishops accused of abuse and its cover-up, mentioned Anne Barrett Doyle, a co-director of BishopAccountability. “He maintained the secrecy of that process, releasing no names and no data. Under his watch, no complicit bishop was stripped of his title.”

As Pope Leo, he should “win the trust of victims and their families”, she added.

According to the College of Cardinals document on him, Leo’s supporters “stress his innocence and say the cases have been inaccurately and unfairly reported in the media”. They insist he adopted right kind procedures in relation to two Peruvian clergymen accused of molesting women.

The factor of sexual abuse and its cover-up is prone to canine Leo’s papacy because it did Francis’s. Although Francis got here to a greater figuring out of the size of the disaster within the church, survivors say he didn’t take sufficient concrete motion and they’re going to be gazing Leo intently.

LGBTQ+ problems

In contemporary years, Prevost has in large part saved a low profile at the problems with sexuality and id. In 2012, he expressed fear that western information media and pop culture promoted “sympathy for beliefs and practices that are at odds with the gospel”, particularly referencing the “homosexual lifestyle” and “alternative families comprised of same-sex partners and their adopted children”.

Last yr, he neither recommended nor rejected blessings for same-sex {couples}, announcing there have been cultural variations around the globe, with some nations nonetheless criminalising same-sex relationships.

LGBT+ Catholics Westminster, a UK-based marketing campaign crew, mentioned: “Opinions and ideas can change … He has expressed openness to marginalised groups, though his stance on specific issues remains ambiguous, including the concerns of LGBT+ Catholics.”

Women

In October 2023, Prevost mentioned that “clericalising women” – ordaining them – would no longer clear up the church’s issues and may even create new ones. “The apostolic tradition is something that has been spelled out very clearly, especially if you want to talk about the question of women’s ordination to the priesthood,” he mentioned.

But, he added: “I think there will be a continuing recognition of the fact that women can add a great deal to the life of the church on many different levels.”

In 2022, he appointed 3 girls to help him in his activity advising at the choice of bishops.