We are grateful to be able to bring you this special guest article upon the election of Pope Leo XIV, from an Australian Catholic.
Picture: Eja Encontro Juvenil Agostiniano Agostiniano, CC BY 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Papal elections often produce surprises. John Paul II was a surprise, coming after the sudden death of the ever-smiling John Paul I; Benedict XVI was less a surprise. Francis was a total surprise and a delight for many of us. Now we have a new pope, Leo XIV, the first American pope, a member of the Augustinian order, who has worked for a substantial part of his ministry in Peru and has dual American and Peruvian citizenship. What can we expect?
What’s in a Name?
The choice of a papal name is the first public signal of a new pope’s program. Pope Francis clearly chose the name Francis to align himself with the vision of St Francis, a man oriented to the poor and the love of creation. In choosing the name Leo, the new pope is recalling the legacy of Pope Leo XIII. Leo XIII was a figure of reform. His most famous encyclical, Rerum Novarum, dealt with the struggles of workers, their rights to organise and form unions, and the dangers of economic liberalism. This document became the foundation of modern Catholic Social Teaching. However, he also wrote two other very important if lesser-known encyclicals. One was an early attempt to renew Catholic biblical scholarship by calling for a return to a study of the original languages — hardly revolutionary by today’s standards, but at a time when Catholics were wedded to the Latin Vulgate, it was a huge step. The other was on encouraging Thomistic studies which had fallen into disrepair, He called on theologians to go back to the original texts, encouraging a more historical reading of Thomas. This revival led to the emergence of major figures such as Karl Rahner, Edward Schillebeeckx, and Bernard Lonergan.
The most significant modern addition to Catholic Social Teaching was Pope Francis’ Laudato Si’ which focused Catholic attention on ecological concerns. There are signals that Leo XIV will continue Francis’ legacy in this regard.
Careful What You Wish For?
The American Catholic Church has long wanted an American Pope. Still, while they are some of the loudest voices in the Church (and have the deepest pockets), they only constitute 7% of the global Catholic community. They have now got what they wanted, but he is not “American” in the usual sense. A major part of his ministry was in Peru, including some of its more remote areas. Such a ministry would have exposed him to the poorest of the poor, shanty towns and rural poverty. He speaks fluent Spanish, Portuguese, Italian and French. In his opening blessing he spoke Italian and Spanish, but pointedly not English. His family background is very multiethnic, including French, Italian and Afro-Haitian heritages. He served twelve years as Prior General of the Augustinian Order in Rome, giving him a thoroughly global perspective on the Church.
While American Catholics may rejoice in one of their own, he is not likely to be as warmly welcomed by a Church that has increasingly identified itself as the “Republican party at prayer.” Prior to his elevation Leo was critical of comments by JD Vance and the Trump administration on immigration issues. His open embrace of the legacy of Pope Francis puts him at odds with many more conservative American bishops who have been very critical of Francis’ papacy. Still, Leo XIV may stand a better chance than Francis of getting through to them that the priorities of the Church involve the preaching of the Gospel to the poor through active service, not through endless culture wars. The Americans have often felt the popes did not understand them; they will not have that excuse anymore.
A Modern Pope
Pope Francis broke the mould of previous popes; he was the first pope to have any real background in science. Previous popes (and many theologians) favoured the humanities, literature, philosophy, classical arts and so on. They were “cultured men” with a classical Euro-focused background. Francis at least understood how science operates. Leo has a background in maths and science. His first degree was a Bachelor of Science with a major in mathematics. He spent years teaching maths and science in high school. This background shapes the way people approach the world (speaking personally!). My personal intellectual mentor, Bernard Lonergan often cited historian Herbert Butterfield that the most important shaping force of the modem world was the scientific revolution, leaving all other “revolutions,” including the Reformation, in the shade.
With this background I am confident Leo will press forward on the stance taken by Francis on the environment and climate change in particular. Francis argued that concern for the environment is not a secondary or optional aspect of Christian faith. Prior to his elevation Leo made sympathetic statements in line with the stance of Francis, but given his scientific background we can expect to hear more from him in environmental issue in the future. A major signal will come with his first encyclical, though it may take a couple of years to take shape.
An Augustinian Pope?
While Benedict XVI was an “Augustinian” by theological inclination Leo XIV is a member of the Augustinian order, established in the thirteenth century. In his opening blessing Leo cited Augustine, “with you I am a Christian, for you I am a bishop.” Augustinian theology is often put into some tension with a more dominant Thomistic tradition. It is not clear to me how this will affect his papal ministry. What is clear is that like Pope Francis, Leo is a member of a religious order. While diocesan clergy can withdraw into their presbyteries when the day is over, religious clergy live in community with a number of brother priests. Living in community can knock off some of the harder edges in one’s personality and make one more tolerant of differences. They undergo a more thorough spiritual formation than diocesan clergy and have more opportunities for ongoing spiritual development and theological education. As Prior General he visited communities of Augustinian friars all around the world, shared in their lives, their spiritual struggles, their successes and failures. All this bodes well for his new ministry.
This ministry of listening makes him favourable to Francis’ vision of synodality, of the Church being a listening Church, not just a teaching Church. He has mentioned Francis’ synodal path already in his opening blessing. Given how much Francis invested into building up this vision of synodality, it is heartening to see his successor continue down this road.
A Cautionary Coda?
The sexual abuse issue is a running sore in the life of the Catholic Church. On this issue there are some ambiguous aspects in his past. Certainly, there was a major sexual abuse scandal involving a home-grown religious order in Peru that demonstrated the typical failures in episcopal leadership found around the world. No doubt this will be a matter that will be more fully discussed in the future.
Catholics and Christians around the world will be watching how this papacy will unfold. He is not another Francis; no one could ever fill his shoes. He will be his own person, treading his own path, but he does promise continuity with the legacy of Francis in two of Francis’ most important advances, his advocacy for the environment and synodality. More will be evident as he settles into the overwhelming responsibility of ministering to 1.4 billion Catholics worldwide.
Professor Neil Ormerod is Honorary Professor at Alphacrucis University College. Neil is a Catholic theologian with extensive experience across the spectrum of Australian theological education, including with the Australian University of Theology.
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