Leo XIV appears to be aware that the power of the Pope does not lie in decreeing peace, but in leading a people who traverse times of turmoil—with faith.
Newsroom (08/20/2025 10:04, Gaudium Press) A hundred days may seem too few to fully judge the course of a pontificate, but they are enough to identify signs of style, priorities, and direction that may define an era.
Pope Leo XIV ascended to the See of Peter in exceedingly difficult circumstances, succeeding a pontificate marked by strong media presence, heated debates, and notable historical weight. He inherited a Church struggling with identity crises, internal and external tensions, and a cultural crossroads that demands both prudence and firmness. His early gestures and words, therefore, were not mere routine; they were interpreted as deep messages—strategic signals and even harbingers of a governing style.
On his very first day, the image of the new Pope speaking of peace, simplicity, and reconciliation imprinted itself on collective memory. As reported by the Catholic News Agency, in his initial greeting Leo XIV invoked “the peace of Christ Risen, a disarmed, humble, and persevering peace.” This was not merely a pious phrase; it was a declaration of intent. The new Pontiff presented himself less as a figure of power and more as a shepherd leading a flock shaken by adverse winds. The same agency highlighted dozens of phrases over these hundred days that reinforced that tone: hope amid adversity, calls for unity, rediscovery of the centrality of prayer, faith, and charity as foundations of Christian life. Furthermore, the Pope has made notably direct appeals for peace, not sparing criticism of actors in the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East.
But it wasn’t just words that made an impact; significant gestures followed. Vaticanist Andrea Gagliarducci, on his Monday Vatican blog, keenly noted Leo XIV’s skillful use of symbols: the choice of a simple pectoral cross, the restored use of Benedict XVI’s crosier, and careful adherence to tradition without alienating those who sought signs of continuity. In Gagliarducci’s view, the new Pope seems to understand that the Church’s geography is changing—and that Rome must reposition itself, not as a political center, but as a locus of communion. This vision was reinforced in another article by the same analyst, who emphasized Leo’s appreciation for communication: not just speaking to the world, but listening, receiving impressions, building bridges. His visit to Vatican media structures was more than protocol—it signaled that the Church’s word should circulate with strength and credibility.
Perhaps the most striking event in these hundred days was the Youth Jubilee in Tor Vergata, which gathered over one million young people. This celebration marked Leo XIV’s intent to invest in youth as a vital force in the Church. When a rainbow illuminated the sky upon his arrival, many interpreted it as a providential sign. The Pope seized the moment to ask for prayers for peace in the world, underscoring his pastoral style more than diplomatic maneuvering. EWTN Vatican coverage emphasized the power of that scene—it was forever etched in memory as a beacon of hope.
In Brazil, where popular religiosity still shapes much of social life, the reception of the new Pope was closely followed. Exame magazine showed that 38% of Brazilians approve of his pontificate’s beginning, while 29% remain undecided. About 45% perceive continuity with Francis—revealing that, despite different styles, Leo XIV is not viewed as a rupture but as a continuation. This is especially relevant in a country with one of the world’s largest Catholic populations, where the Pope’s image is as cultural as it is spiritual.
Yet, to think that a hundred days are enough to define direction without ambiguity would be naïve. Andrea Gagliarducci warns that, so far, this Pope has shown more moves toward stabilization than deep reform. His intent to reduce personalism and emphasize the Petrine ministry as service to unity appears evident. “Less Robert, more Peter,” summarized an EWTN article—recalling that the Pope’s baptismal name is Robert, yet he chose to embody the apostle rather than the man. There is a clear effort not to confuse person with office, individual charisma with ecclesial function. If Francis’s pontificate was marked by strongly personal gestures shaped by his history and breaks with tradition, Leo XIV seems from the start filled with symbolism: a deliberate effort to reconnect the Church with its Roman identity and restore the Petrine office to prominence.
Leo XIV’s early declarations also hint at his theological priorities. For him, faith is not merely intellectual assent but a life lived in hope. “It is by the virtue of hope that we desire to attain complete happiness in God, even in the face of difficulties,” he stated. This reflects the core of Christian doctrine in its simplicity—without yielding to fad or heavy rhetoric. Notable is his emphasis on the family as the first sphere of support amid life’s trials. Though not new, this reaffirmation gains import in a cultural context where the family is increasingly fragile. Doctrinal clarity on life and family issues becomes a distinctive hallmark of Leo XIV’s pontificate—an area of recent ambiguities. Intentionally or not, the Pope seems resolved to close any loophole regarding the integrity of the family founded on the fruitful union of man and woman. The Church will always choose life—and on that front, it appears there will be no compromise.
From a broader perspective, Leo XIV has yet to enact sweeping curial reforms or issue major doctrinal documents. His style so far resembles a pilot stabilizing the plane before changing course. That approach has merit: following years of internal debate and polarization, calm is virtuous—yet risky, for peace may be seen as complicity, serenity as complacency.
Still, his tone seems to have lowered tensions. Critics expecting rupture saw a balanced man; progressive voices seeking total continuity found someone determined not to backtrack. On issues foregrounded by Francis—synodality, care for Creation—continuity appears assured, albeit through a different tone. Ordinary faithful, often removed from technical disputes, encountered a serene face that talks courageously about peace. It’s a fragile equilibrium, but one that has held in these hundred days.
The key question remains whether this posture will suffice against looming challenges: rapid secularization in Europe, Pentecostal expansion in Latin America, liturgical divisions within communities, the need for dialogue with Islam amid wars and humanitarian crises, and the silent arrangement on bishop appointments with China. Each arena demands more than symbolic gestures—decisive actions are required, even at the risk of offending, positions that will define his legacy and inevitably provoke friction.
At the end of one hundred days, the prevailing impression is one of serenity. But history teaches that calm may be but the lull before storms. Leo XIV seems to know that papal power lies not in decreeing peace, but in faithfully guiding a people through turbulence. So far, he has shown that governance is not about slogans but signs—not about spectacle, but sobriety.
We must now see whether this gentle style will endure under pressure. Like every pilot taking control amid turbulence, Leo XIV has sought to steady the aircraft. The question is whether this “Leonine peace” is mere stabilization—or the new norm of his pontificate.
— Rafael Tavares
Compiled by Gustavo Kralj
Related Images:
