The College of Cardinals surprised even experienced Vatican-watchers May 8 by electing Robert Francis Prevost as the first American-born pope. His election, and his choice of Leo XIV as his papal name, were announced shortly after 7 p.m. at Vatican City.
His page on the College of Cardinals Report describes Prevost as “a Chicago-born prelate with views close to Pope Francis who spent many years as a missionary in Peru before being elected head of the Augustinians for two consecutive terms.”
The report listed Prevost as agreeing with Pope Francis on “Ordaining Female Deacons,” “Promoting a ‘Synodal Church,’” and “Focusing on Climate Change.” Francis welcomed discussion of ordaining women to the diaconate, but he took no actions that made such ordinations more likely in the near future.
Pope Leo XIV is described as ambivalent on blessing same-sex couples and unknown on making priestly celibacy optional, restricting the traditional Latin Mass, allowing China to choose bishops, reassessing Humanae Vitae, welcoming divorced and remarried Catholics to partake of Communion, or supporting the German church’s “Synodal Way,” which typically has careened far past even Pope Francis in “making a mess.”
On NBC News, layman George Weigel sounded upbeat, and he repeatedly praised Prevost’s choice of a papal name. Weigel offered a quick history lesson in saying that Pope Leo XIII created the modern papacy and was a substantial theologian.
The new pope was born in Chicago in September 1955 and made his solemn vows in the Order of St. Augustine in 1981. He served as a missionary in Peru for several years before being elected the leader of his order for two consecutive terms.
“Who knows how Pope Leo XIV will play on the world stage,” Michael Sean Winters wrote for the progressive National Catholic Reporter. “For now we can only state, but state with certainty, that the cardinals have chosen someone committed to the reforms Pope Francis began. The new pope will chart his own path, to be sure, but we know the direction in which he is headed.”
The Rev. James Martin, S.J., a frequent conversation partner with Pope Francis, did not anticipate the papal name of Leo XIV, but on May 3 he provided a witty list of other names that could clearly indicate the new pope’s direction.
Like most other people on social media, Martin offered quick and short thoughts: “I know Pope Leo XIV to be a kind, open, humble, modest, decisive, hard-working, straightforward, trustworthy, and down-to-earth man. A brilliant choice. May God bless him.”
Douglas LeBlanc is the Associate Editor for Book Reviews and writes about Christianity and culture. He and his wife, Monica, attend St. John’s Parish Church on Johns Island, South Carolina.
