The New Pope: Leo XIV - Controversy in His Past, Bridges to Build
Pope Linking Global Land Masses Together
Leo XIV, the first US-American pope, is stirring controversy due to allegations from his time in South America. Born in the US, Leo has been actively engaged in Peru for decades. Working in slums and remote areas, he has already united the Americas. Now, he's set to unite Catholics worldwide. But allegations from Peru and an association for abuse victims have put a spoke in his wheel.
"A bridge-builder between the Global North and Global South" is how the German Latin America aid organization Adveniat describes Leo XIV. With him, "an American will oppose the US president who represents the opposite of Donald Trump: he builds bridges, not walls," Adveniat's main business manager, Father Martin Maier, said. "He stands on the side of the poor and marginalized." Prevost has been vocal against militant Christianity, often sharing government-critical content on X.
An American Pope with a Peruvian Past
Prevost embarked on his journey to the Catholic Church's highest position in Peru. He spent 20 years there, first as a missionary, then as a priest, teacher, and bishop. He had to take Peruvian citizenship to exercise his roles. The majority of Peru's population identifies as Catholic.
The Lawsuit: Cover-ups and Abuse
Prevost visited remote communities frequently as bishop between 2015 and 2023, often working in slums. A teacher and church member in Chiclayo, Yolanda Díaz, shared with the "New York Times" that Prevost believed in the church going to the people. "Instead of considering pastoral work as something people go to church for, he wanted the church to go to the people," she said.
However, there are allegations against the new pope from his time in South America. Three women accused him of covering up abuse cases in his Peruvian diocese. Sarah Pearson, spokesperson for the survivor support network SNAP ("Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests"), expressed deep concern about how Prevost handled abuse cases following his election.
A Call for Change from the Victims
Peruvian investigative journalist Pedro Salinas has dismissed the allegations as baseless, believing they are part of an ultraconservative faction's campaign to discredit Prevost. Salinas pointed out that Prevost had always supported victims of abuse.
Previously a member of the ultraconservative Peruvian congregation Sodalicio, which he later investigated for sexual abuse cases, Salinas drew attention to the dissolution of the congregation by Pope Francis in January 2024, marking the largest publicized abuse scandal in Peruvian church history.
Under the same papacy, SNAP is urging Leo XIV to end the "abuse crisis." They demand a compensation fund for victims, a zero-tolerance policy in church law, and an internal church agency to oversee and enforce these rules.
Whether or not the new Pope addresses these demands, one thing remains certain: he has already united continents. As an American with Peruvian citizenship, like his predecessor Francis, he's more than just a theologian. He understands the importance of the church's role in areas of poverty, having worked there himself. So far, Prevost was known and active on two continents. As Leo XIV, he will represent five.
- Peru
- Vatican
- USA
- The Peruvian past of the newly elected US-American pope, Leo XIV, has been marked by controversy due to allegations of cover-ups and abuse.
- Born in the USA and working extensively in Peru for decades, Leo XIV has already united the Americas and is now aiming to unite Catholics worldwide, regardless of political or general-news matters.
- While Peruvian investigative journalist Pedro Salinas dismisses the allegations as baseless, a survivor support network has called for change from Leo XIV, demanding a compensation fund for victims, a zero-tolerance policy, and an internal church agency to enforce these rules.
- With his Peruvian citizenship, Leo XIV, like his predecessor Francis, is more than a theologian. He understands the importance of the church's role in areas of poverty and has experience working in such conditions, having spent much of his time in Peru working in slums.
