I imagine we've all heard by now that we have a pope: Pope Leo XIV, previously known as Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost. Perhaps the second thing we all heard about him is that he is American. He is a son of the Chicago Archdiocese, which naturally makes me cheer.
Those with retentive memories may recall that Jack had already posted a good biography of him, about 18 months ago, here at NewGathering: https://newgathering.blogspot.com/2023/01/chicagoan-named-new-head-of-vatican.html.
I have seen a couple of sources say he is the church's first pope from the Augustinian religious order. I don't know much about Augustinians, but I understand the order came together from a spirituality of mendicant friars.
His first greeting to the world can be read here. Here is a snippet from it:
God loves us, all of us, evil will not prevail. We are all in the hands of God. Without fear, united, hand in hand with God and among ourselves, we will go forward. We are disciples of Christ, Christ goes before us, and the world needs his light. Humanity needs him like a bridge to reach God and his love. You help us to build bridges with dialogue and encounter so we can all be one people always in peace.
If, as I suppose, this speech was extemporaneous, then - not bad!
What should we expect of Pope Leo? This first point is very important: he is not Pope Francis. He has some things on common with Francis: a religious order pope; a pope with deep roots in South America (Pope Leo has lived and ministered in Peru for decades); and apparently, a heart for those who are poor. But we shouldn't expect him to have the same pastoral gifts as Francis. He will bring his own gifts. I don't know yet what those are. We will all learn together. It's possible that the media won't find him as beguiling as they found Francis.
I heard someone mention that the biographical sketch, "Born in Chicago, became a priest in a religious order, rose to become head of the worldwide order" describes the late Cardinal George as well as Leo. If I may say so: just as Leo won't be Francis, I rather hope he won't be Cardinal George!
Leo's preparation for church leadership was quite different than Francis's. Leo is a canon lawyer and was also the rector of a seminary for a while. These are tried-and-true, conventional paths to church senior leadership - arguably, more conventional than Francis's. And that may be why the conclave chose him - it may have wished, after this period of reform, to have a period of consolidation of Francis's reforms. A bit less of an outsider, a bit more of an insider.
I also speculate that Leo referenced unity and bridge-building in his maiden speech in reference, not to the world at large, but rather to the church - that he sees division in the church, and hopes he can be an instrument of healing and unity for the church. If that is so, it would be quite a different focus than Francis's. But perhaps what a pope expects (and what a conclave expects of him) turns out to be quite different than what the circumstances of his papacy demand of him. That may have been true of Francis, who reportedly was elected to reform the curia and try to get the church's financial house in order. I think it's safe to say those will not be the qualities for which Francis is remembered.
Crawling out a bit farther on this speculative branch: peope who have a vocation to the law and to higher-education leadership tend to have personalities and skills sets that are different than Francis's. Such folks tend not to be as comfortable with spontaneous conversations with reporters on long-distance plane rides. If it turns out that Leo has a bit of the nerd and a bit of the bureaucrat to him - let us not hold that against him. Francis would be a tough act for anyone to follow.
Let us pray for Pope Leo XIV: Come, Holy Spirit, and watch over Pope Leo and the church.
I thought I would be encouraged and excited no matter who the new pope was, but I can't work up much enthusiasm for Leo XIV. One of the most noteworthy quotes from Pope Francis was, "Who am I to judge?" From The Economist article I posted:
ReplyDelete"And he [Pope Leo XIV] is unlikely to be as welcoming in his approach to gay people as his predecessor was. In a 2012 address to bishops, he regretted the promotion of “sympathy for beliefs and practices that are at odds with the gospel”, citing as examples the “homosexual lifestyle” and “alternative families comprised of same-sex partners and their adopted children”.
Like many, I was totally surprised that an American was chosen, but I can't think of any reason why that is really important. And I didn't find his first speech particularly inspiring.
Someone made a very funny TikTok impersonating Trump taking credit for getting an American elected. I won't be surprised if it actually happens.
Jim, Chicago has had a pretty good week. The new pope has Chicago roots, and yesterday the new archbishop of Omaha, Michael McGovern, was installed. Abp.McGovern grew up in a suburb of Chicago.
ReplyDeleteI was talking with our pastor earlier and he said it was a lot to process all at once. But I did notice he remembered to pray for "our pope, Leo, and our archbishop Michael" in the Eucharistic prayer at Mass this evening.
We watched the livestream of the installation Mass for Archbishop McGovern yesterday. In honor of his Irish heritage they sang the Lorica hymn of St. Patrick for a prelude.
I was glad that Cardinal Prevost chose the name Leo XIV. I have long admired what I have read of Leo XIII.
I don't know anything about Leo XIII except that he was the author of Rerum Novarum - and that by itself is pretty noteworthy. I think we're all assuming that is why Leo XIV has chosen that name, and I take it as a good harbinger. Rerum Novarum was especially concerned with worker's rights. That would be a surprising and interesting point of emphasis for Leo XIV - can't wait to see how it unfolds.
DeleteYes - a good week for Chicago!
DeleteOn our local news, they interviewed a couple of folks who knew Pope Leo when he was young, including one of his brothers. It has been revealed that Leo grew up a White Sox fan rather than a Cub fan. If one is inclined to read tea leaves from that little bit of trivia, one could note that it is perfectly conventional for a South Side kid to root for the White Sox. One might take it as one more (very minuscule) bit of evidence that Leo is not one who habitually colors outside the lines. But we'll have to wait and see.
One thing I think is notable about Pope Leo XIII is that he met and encouraged the vocations of three women who are canonized saints; Therese of Lisieux, Katharine Drexel, and Frances Cabrini.
DeleteHe is also the first pope of whom we have a photographic record.
Rev. James Martin is saying that he knows Leo - apparently they hung out together at the Synod - and found him to be a good and humble man. His brother reported that he is a good man who respects people. Francis evidently liked him. I take all these as good signs.
ReplyDeleteLeo's educational biography is: he attended minor seminary (high-school-level seminary) at an Augustinian seminary in Holland, MI. From there, he didn't go on to undergraduate seminary - at least I don't think he did? He attended Villanova, which is an Augustinian university, but he was a math major, which I don't think would have been usual for a seminarian. (Jack, can you help here?) I'm speculating that his vocation didn't solidify until he graduated from college (or perhaps a bit beforehand).
ReplyDeleteOne can't help wonder: did he have a girlfriend? Did he attend any keggers? Did he smoke pot? Did he skip class occasionally because he was so wrapped up in playing backgammon with his roommate? (Uh, nothing biographical implied in that last question.)
Headline from The New York Post: Pope Leo XIV was an active Republican primary voter and voted in 2024 presidential election.
ReplyDeleteThe answer to all our prayers. A Republican pope.
Well there's different kinds of Republicans. I'm one (kinda RINO though). Never ever voted for Trump. Really the only reason I don't change to Independent is so I can vote in the primary for the least objectionable candidate. Maybe Pope Leo was the same way.
DeleteThe NY Post isn’t always reliable. There is a reason it’s trumps favorite newspaper. I changed from GOP to Not Affiliated after the rise of the Tea Party., I actually switched back to GOP for a month at a time to vote against trump in the Republican primaries because Not Affiliated voters aren’t allowed to vote in primaries in Maryland. Then back to Not Affiliated. My husband didn’t change his GOP registration ( to Dem) for years and voted in Republican primaries - against trump. Then voted Dem in the national election. From what I have read, Leo affirmed Francis’s indirect scolds of both Vance and trump, especially on immigration but also on Vance’s faulty understanding of Ordo Amore. I am somewhat relieved - so far anyway, based on what I’ve read about him. He’s not emulating. Francis on the outward simplicity so far but hope that he is in spirit. Maybe he will soothe the ruffled feathers of the Catholics who prefer the Constantine lifestyle to the Jesus lifestyle by wearing the mozetta. I loved that Francis rocked the church by omitting that garment when he first appeared on the balcony. It was a powerful symbol to disaffected with the monarchical nature of the church folk like me. I looked up and started paying attention after writing off the Catholic Church as failing to focus on teaching the gospel - through both words and actions. The EC seemed to be more open to listening to the Holy Spirit - and still is. Francis had to tread carefully and couldn’t go too fast unfortunately. I think he would have done more for the LGBT community if he thought he could but pulled back a bit to focus on the poor, refugees and migrants. He was slowly beginning to understand that women are second class in the RCC but it took him a long time to get over his hang up’s on the roles of women..
DeleteFrancis was hated by American conservative Catholics, but loved by most Catholics globally. He was a world leader in a way that Benedict never was. JPII fostered ecumenism - his best move - but he closed the windows opened in the church by Vatican II. He was an authoritarian and may have approved of trump even after he helped Poland overthrow its Russian authoritarian oppressors. Who knows.
It could be up to Pope Leo, the leader of the least democratic and most imperial institution in the world to help save western democracy.
Had to look up what a mozetta was. Looked like a rather plain-Jane cape or short jacket. I was thinking it would be that vestment he wore on the balcony when he was announced. That one looked the the legacy chasuble our parish has from 1917. It has a picture of the Sacred Heart, so they get it out for the feast of the Sacred Heart.
DeleteI noted it because I had tuned out the papacy before Francis was elected. When I heard the news of a new pope on the car radio, two priests discussing it seemed scandalized that Francis hadn’t followed the tradition. So I started paying attention to the Pope and the RC again. I found an old article from Patheos interesting - about the changes in papal attire and ceremonial accoutrements in the last several decades. The direction has been where it should be - moving towards less imperial symbology even if not yet to the lifestyles of carpenters and fishermen.
DeleteCan you imagine if someone like Burke had been elected? His cape would have needed an army to carry it through the streets of Rome as he approached his throne as minions fanned him with ostrich feathers. Probably would have revived the coronation too.
https://www.patheos.com/blogs/davearmstrong/2020/07/legalism-re-pope-francis-papal-attire-mozzetta.html
I always voted Democrat until lately and that was anti-genocide Green. While a Democratic voter, I was registered Republican since they were winning a lot and I wanted to vote in primaries for the least evil Republican. So registration does not necessarily indicate political leaning as I was was always a far left Democrat until I left stage left. Pope Francis was pretty anti-capitalist and we’ll see where Leo falls on the spectrum.
DeleteInteresting article in Politico
DeleteLots of coverage in the WaPo and NYT but I try to find articles in pubs without paywalls because I never know if my “ gift” links work for the others.
https://www.politico.com/news/2025/05/08/leo-american-pope-worldview-00337247
In Illinois you don't have to formally register with a party to vote in the party's primary. You can just walk ask for either party's ballot on primary day and vote in that party's primary. When I lived in Chicago I only voted Democratic because it was, and is, a one-party town.
DeleteI've taken Republican ballots in recent years, more often to vote against a particular candidate than for one.
David, maybe this will help, in a negative-endorsement kind of way? This is from Anne's Politico article:
Delete"One of the president’s most prominent Catholic allies, Steve Bannon, called Leo the “worst pick for MAGA Catholics,” deeming him the “anti-Trump pope.”"
I'm impressed with the research you all are doing! My Italian-American friends in the UP are geeked up. Even tho the pope is ethnically not just Italian but French, and Spanish, a big celebration is planned down at the Christopher Columbus Hall. Man, the food, the yelling, the hugging, the teasing, the stories. I confess I got excited and a little weepy in spite of myself getting their texts yesterday. Reminder of a chaotic but often joyous time in my misspent youth. I hope the new Pope will be worthy of their enthusiasm. Such good and generous people the Church has given us.
ReplyDeleteJean, I am doing some reading about him because I’m hoping that he can rein in the right wing Catholics a bit. Maybe they will listen a bit more when it comes to the Matthew 25 gospel and stop supporting the hate policies directed at immigrants, refugees and the poor. Maybe they will be more open to an American because of their nationalist chauvinism. I’m not holding my breath though.
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DeleteOops, trigger finger. I'm just not invested in the institutional Church anymore, though I owe it a debt for challenging me to think and for preserving the legacy of the saints. But at the end of the day, in the shape I'm in, the only sacrament I've received (or given) worth anything is kindness.
DeleteSince I am unchurched these days and follow both Catholic and EC religious and spiritual sources, (and Buddhist) my main interest in the possible influence Leo may have on America’s white Catholics is because 60% voted for trump. So I guess my interest in him is more political than religious rules or theology except for wondering how he might influence right- wing Catholics via religious teachings and witness. They totally ignored Francis - they very often vilified him. My “ devout” Catholic eldest sister and I have been pretty much estranged since 2016, seeing one another only half a dozen times since 2016 - mostly after the murder of our middle sister’s daughter. An occasional “ family business” email. My other sister ( who died in Nov 23) was an atheist. She saw eldest sister frequently as they lived a 1/2 mile from each other, belonged to the same country club and had brunch together every Sunday. My late sister and her husband quit the country club shortly before she died. They live about a 20 minute drive from us. Middle sister told me that eldest sister and husband (pillars of their parish, convinced they are “ saved”) believed that Francis was evil - maybe the anti- Christ. Partly as a result of white Catholics going heavily for trump, the nation is suffering, and the whole democratic world is in danger. Catholics have an outsize influence in America and they have gone down a dark path. If Leo can influence them it would be good for the Catholic Church, for America, and for the world because trump is on a path of destruction. I’m not interested much in liturgy, especially the liturgy wars except for the fact,that most of the Latin lovers also love trump. Theology is not something that absorbs me - interesting intellectual exercises at times, but not a big concern for me because no human being can know God’s mind. Human infallibility doesn’t exist - not in the RCC or anywhere else. No matter what the Church Lacies tell people in RCIA! Kindness is a “ Theology” I can agree with.
DeleteIf Leo can curb some of the legal abuses and cruelties of Trumpism among the faithful, great. But the MAGA juggernaut is pretty powerful.
DeleteI agree. The majority of white American “Christians” including white Catholics have made trump their idol. He’s their Golden Calf. As I’ve said before, I’m not holding my breath. But I am watching with interest. There is a story in the WaPo that I haven’t yet read, but the headline is that the Catholic right wing politicos in DC have already started a war against Leo. Unfortunately there are a large number of right wing Catholics in the trump administration, plus most of the SC Catholics are happy to rubber stamp his violations of the Constitution with convoluted “originalist” opinions. But DC also has a progressive Cardinal - McElroy - who seems to be laying low. His job is to rub elbows with the politicos to do soft lobbying, and rub elbows with the rich Catholics for donations.
DeleteOf local interest to me, the pope attended Villanova University in the Philadelphia suburbs. It is an Augustinian-affiliated institution. I know people who attended there. I went to St. Joseph’s College, the Jesuit institution in Philadelphia, but attended Monsignor Bonner High School, run by the Augustinians. With Pope Francis the first Jesuit and Pope Leo the first Augustinian pope, I’m covered now. I’m concerned for LGBTQ Catholics but I hope to be surprised.
ReplyDeleteI know lots of Fransicans and Benedictines, and some Jesuits. But no Augustinians. Wasn't familiar at all with that order. But it seems that it has been around a long time. Not numerous compared with some other orders. Wonder what its main "charism" or emphasis is.
DeleteOur youngest son dated a girl, D, for 11 years ( high school to after college) who went to Villanova. We went to Villanova for her graduation. Based on her social media reaction to the new Pope she is happy about it. We were sort of sad when they broke up a couple of years after college as she had become almost part of the family. But they were right - they weren’t a lifelong good match. She was a class behind him in high school, but came over to see me often after he went to college in California. She also asked me to work with her on college application essays, primarily to check grammar, spelling , and punctuation. She is an only child. Her mom (divorced) was the Editor of a leading national educational publication so maybe she didn’t want to get into disagreements with her mom so turned to me! Her mom and I maintained our own friendship for several years after the breakup, but after D got married, it cooled. Apparently her husband was insecure about the long relationship D had had with our son and was jealous of the continuing contact between her mom and me. He also asked D to stop communicating with me directly ( mostly email). But occasional FB “ likes” still.
DeleteI don’t remember the exact wording of a very tough question on her Villanova application, but it required an in- depth grasp of Augustinian philosophy. I was little help and this was 2000, before google had really taken off for research help. So she went to the library to learn more about Augustinian thought. She loved Villanova.
I am most familiar with Jesuits, but still arms length. I was briefly involved with a joint project of our rich, white parish and a Franciscan parish that was mostly Latino. I liked the Franciscan priests. I left the RC after a while so lost that connection.
I have never been “ friends” with any priest and my devout Irish Catholic Jansenist mom never was either. No priests at our dinner table.
We are on friendly terms with many priests, but that's not the same as being close friends. They get reassigned often enough that it doesn't really lead to lasting friendships.
DeleteThe only priest who got asked to dinner was our old Irish monsignor when I was a kid. Once in a while my grandma would invite him and have us over too. It was definitely a "you kids mind your table manners and wear your Sunday clothes" occasion. My mom was an extrovert and a good conversationalist so there weren't any awkward silences.
There are several orders based on the rule of Saint Augustine. Biggest is the Order of Saint Augustine, O.S.A. They service parishes, they teach, they are semi-monastic. I liked them, for the most part, but not universally. I don’t know if the OSA brews the Augustiner bier in Germany but I totally approve of that, too. Martin Luther was an Augustinian.
DeleteMy college alma mater, Loyola Chicago, is Jesuit. High school had diocesan priests and Adrian Dominicans - the latter are a women's religious order. So not much chance of one of them becoming pope.
DeleteSort of funny. I'm reading that Pope Leo (in the before times) has been known to argue with his MAGA relatives on Facebook. Everybody has 'em!
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