"The Grand Middle Man": A Political Pope in the Making
Powerful church figure forecasts: Pope Leo XIV to emphasize political influence within Catholic Church.
The 267th pope, Leo XIV, cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, has taken the reins of the Catholic Church. Church historian Hubert Wolf opines that the new pontiff will be more of a pragmatic "man of the middle" rather than a crusader for fundamental reforms.
Leo XIV's election as pope was a compromise choice, similar to that of Benedict XVI in 2005. Professor Hubert Wolf from Münster University suggests that Prevost had already positioned himself as a unifier in the boundless Church, flying under the radar of self-proclaimed Vatican experts.
Setting His Own Path
With a pope ascharismatic as Francis, expectations were high for a progressive leader. However, Wolf assures us, we should not anticipate any groundbreaking transformations like ordaining women or married priests from Leo XIV. He is regarded as a shrewd negotiator, practical, and void of extreme ideologies.
In his inaugural speech, Leo XIV demonstrated a distinct break from the humility shown by his predecessor Francis. Unlike Francis, who donned simple white attire, Leo XIV opted for a red mozzetta (shoulder cape) and stole to deliver the message, "I am not a carbon copy of Francis."
The new pope's emphasis on diplomacy is evident in his opening salutation, "Peace be with you," during his lengthy, handwritten address. Leo XIV appears to be a political pope at heart.
From Missionary to Pope
Born on September 14, 1955, in Chicago, Leo XIV holds American and Peruvian citizenship. He studied mathematics before joining the Augustinian Order in 1977. After his ordination as a priest in Rome in 1982, he obtained a doctorate in Canon Law there.
As a missionary in Peru from the 1980s onwards, Leo XIV founded parishes, led a seminary, and played a role in bishop training. In 2015, Pope Francis appointed him as bishop of Chiclayo, a diocese in the north of Peru. In 2023, he rose to head the Dicastery for Bishops, the Vatican office responsible for selecting bishops worldwide. The same year, he was awarded the cardinal's hat.
With Leo XIV's ascension, the Catholic Church breaks new ground by crowning an American pope for the first time, signifying a significant step in the Church's evolution.
Sources: ntv.de, jpe/dpa
- Vatican
- Catholic Church
- Popes
- Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, better known as Pope Leo XIV, originates from the United States and Peru, marking the first time an American has been elected as pope, symbolizing continuity and evolution within the Catholic Church.
- Pope Leo XIV's election was a compromise choice, much like that of Benedict XVI, and the new pontiff has positioned himself as a unifier in the Church, following a common foreign and security policy of diplomacy and pragmatism.
- Despite expectations for progressive reforms similar to Pope Francis, Pope Leo XIV has demonstrated a practical and shrewd approach, not expected to implement groundbreaking transformations such as ordaining women or married priests.
- Away from the pure humility displayed by his predecessor, Pope Leo XIV made his inauguration speech while wearing a red mozzetta and stole, emphasizing his distinct leadership style within the common foreign and security policy framework of the Church's politics.
