It is to be hoped that Leo XIV will fully reassume the classic vocation of pontifex: the builder of bridges.
Newsrooom (17/06/2025 2:15, Gaudium Press) The election of Pope Leo XIV represented a gentle but decisive change in the recent history of the Catholic Church. While the conclave that elected him was not particularly long, the same cannot be said of the process of discernment that preceded it. After more than a decade of Pope Francis’ pontificate, marked by twists and turns, theological ambiguities and a profound restructuring of the Roman Curia, the Church seemed to yearn for balance and clarity. Leo XIV, an American with a discreet profile but deeply rooted in the Augustinian tradition, ascended the throne of Peter, bringing with him an aura of sobriety, harmony and the promise of reconciliation within the Church.
In this article, we will analyze the first month of Leo XIV’s pontificate and try to infer – based on his first gestures, speeches and appointments – what the style and priorities of his government will be, following the analyses of Vaticanist Andrea Gagliarducci, published on the MondayVatican blog, which offer valuable insights into the start of this new papal cycle.
The coat of arms and the program
The coat of arms of Leo XIV is in itself a declaration of intent. In the centre, the figure of the One, surrounded by three interlocking circles, recalls both the Trinity and the Neoplatonic idea of unity that so fascinated St. Augustine. It is no coincidence that Gagliarducci observes that the coat of arms is ‘the reflection of a pontificate that will seek to restore order to complexity’.
This concept – unity in diversity – recurs in the Pope’s pronouncements. In his inaugural homily, Leo stated that ‘the Church must be like the soul in the body: unifying, without absorbing, without cancelling.’ There is a distant echo of Benedict XVI here, but also a veiled criticism of what many saw as the fragmentation and decentralization promoted during Francis’ pontificate.
Silence as a message, not an omission
One of Leo XIV’s most striking traits so far has been his restraint. As Andrea Gagliarducci notes in his article of 13 May 2025 entitled ‘Pope Leo XIV: What will his team be like?’, ‘the new pope has not yet made any decisive appointments, and this is not a sign of weakness, but of method.’ According to Gagliarducci, Leo XIV seems determined to avoid hasty decisions. Prudence and listening are his first political – and theological – gestures.
In this sense, it is possible to infer that before reversing themes from the previous pontificate, Leo prefers to cover them with a reverent cloak of silence. This silence should not be understood as an omission, but as a way of reconnecting the Church with the Tradition that predates his predecessor. This will not please Francis’ staunchest opponents, but it will be a possible style of government, at least in the first few years. It will be interesting to see how Leo will deal with the themes of synodality, ecumenism and integral ecology.
Unlike Francis, who began his pontificate with gestures of rupture (such as the choice of the name Francis, the refusal to wear the red mozzetta and to live in the papal apartment, and the temporary suspension of various Curia structures), Leo has opted for symbolic continuity, albeit in silence. His few public speeches so far have been marked by a serene, deeply theological tone, with clear references to the Church Fathers, especially Augustine and Ignatius of Antioch.
The question of the Curia and the first decisions
Although he had not made any major changes yet, it is notable that Leo XIV had already begun to meet with important figures in the Curia. Gagliarducci mentions that the Pope ‘has been discreetly listening to cardinals from the more diplomatic wing of the Church, and does not seem willing to adopt the autocratic style of unilateral decisions.’
The temporary retention of Cardinal Parolin and Archbishop Peña Parra in the Secretariat of State, despite their involvement with Francis’ administration, demonstrates this patience and capacity for transition. What’s more, the Pope seems to be testing the loyalty and willingness of certain dicasteries to collaborate with a new ecclesial mentality that is more unitive and less fragmented.
It should be remembered that in the last two years, the main transitions in the world episcopate have been led by the Dicastery for Bishops, headed at the time by Cardinal Prevost. This means that the current Pope has a privileged overview of the vacant sees, the candidates for the episcopate and the possible strategic moves within the Church. He is well aware of the profiles at stake and will be able, with discretion, to reallocate members of the Curia whom he wishes to remove from the decision-making centre, assigning them diocesan sees – a traditional and effective way of rebalancing forces.
In this context, there is speculation that Argentinian Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, could be sent back to La Plata or some other diocese in Argentina. The same fate could be reserved for other European curials and influential personalities in the current Roman structure. It is possible that Leo already has a plan for each of them – and, more importantly, a clear knowledge of who could replace them with fidelity to the new orientation.
There are also expectations that Leo will bring more cardinals from the Americas to important positions in the Curia. One of the names being considered to take over his former dicastery – that of the Bishops – is that of Cardinal Blaise Cupich, Archbishop of Chicago. Another name that comes up frequently in informal conversations in Rome’s cafés is that of Cardinal Sérgio da Rocha. His presence in a Roman dicastery would give the Brazilian episcopate, the largest in Latin America, more effective representation in the Church’s central government.
Leo XIV is unlikely to dismantle the structure of the Curia shaped by Francis’ reform. However, it is likely that he will configure it with members of greater intellectual stature and theological affinity with his ecclesial vision. At the same time, he should maintain the precedent set by Francis regarding the presence of women in dicasteries, an innovation applauded by broad sectors of the Church. It remains to be seen in which positions Leo will bet on the contribution of women, and whether he will seek to deepen this path with balance and discernment. Rumours circulated that Pope Francis wanted to appoint a woman to head the Holy See Press Office – a symbolic gesture with great institutional impact. It remains to be seen whether Leo XIV will take up this intention, now that Paolo Ruffini, the prefect at the head of the Dicastery for Communication, is approaching retirement at the age of 70, the age limit for lay people in curial positions.
The traditional Mass and dialogue with traditionalists
One of the great challenges inherited by Leo XIV is the relationship with traditionalist Catholics. The virtual abolition of the Mass according to the pre-conciliar missal during the previous pontificate generated deep divisions, especially in the United States, the new Pope’s homeland. Although he has not yet spoken explicitly on the subject, expectations are high.
Gagliarducci, in his article ‘Leo XIV: What Sort of Pontificate Will it Be?’ of 20 May 2025, points out that ‘the new Pope possesses liturgical sensitivity, and is not unaware of the pastoral and spiritual value of the extraordinary form of the Roman Rite.’ It is still too early to speak of a reversal of Traditionis Custodes, but there are signs of a rebalancing. Leo XIV seems inclined to see the liturgy not as an ideological battlefield, but as a school of unity.
However, it is important to remember that one of the main icons of American traditionalism, the former bishop of Tyler, Joseph Strickland, was removed from his post during Francis’ pontificate, precisely under the supervision of the then Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops, Cardinal Robert Prevost. This episode suggests that, at least on this point, Leo shares more affinities with Francis’ approach than traditionalists might like to admit. The extent of the space he grants to these groups will be a decisive factor in understanding his ecclesial project, especially with regard to the Church in his homeland.
Life and family in the post-Amoris Laetitia era
Another point of interest will be the approach to issues of family and sexual morality. Amoris Laetitia, the central document of Francis’ pontificate, has generated intense controversy because of its ambiguous interpretations, especially with regard to communion for remarried divorcees.
Leo XIV, according to sources close to the new Pope, seems inclined to return to the Church’s traditional teaching in a firm but elegant manner. ‘There will be no explicit condemnations, but the teaching will be clear,’ says a Vatican diplomat quoted by Gagliarducci.
Instead of confronting the previous legacy, Leo seems willing to leave certain documents in the rear-view mirror, letting silence and time do their work.
The problem of abuse and an inherited problem
Pope Francis has left delicate dossiers open. Cases like that of Gustavo Zanchetta and Marko Rupnik have tarnished the Church’s credibility in dealing with abusers, especially when they are protected by networks of power and influence. The fact that Rupnik, after having his excommunication mysteriously lifted, continues to exercise the priesthood in Slovenia is a scandal that has yet to be answered.
Leo XIV will have to deal with this legacy in an exemplary way if he wants to restore trust. According to Gagliarducci, the Pope ‘is well aware of the seriousness of the problem’ and sees institutional purification as a necessary step towards Church unity. He is expected to promote independent investigations and a policy of zero tolerance, not just in speech but in practice.
The popular saying goes that no one chooses their parents or their inheritance. In the case of Leo XIV, it is reasonable to assume that he would have preferred to have received a legacy less marred by abuse scandals and financial problems. It will undoubtedly be revealing to see how the Pontiff copes with these two thorny ‘Greek gifts’ left by the mercy of his Argentinian predecessor.
Unity: the central theme of the pontificate?
If Francis used strong images to characterize the Church – a field hospital, a polyhedron – Leo XIV already seems to have chosen his own: harmony. It is no coincidence that his first apostolic journey is scheduled to take place in Nicaea, the symbol of the Church’s first great ecumenical council and also a symbol of doctrinal and ecclesial unity.
The choice is not accidental. Nicaea is also the point of convergence between the Christian East and West. Everything indicates that Leo wants to vigorously take up the cause of unity among Christians, especially with the Orthodox. As an Augustinian, Leo XIV was well acquainted with the thought of Plotinus, who spoke of the One and its emanations. This image seems to resonate deeply in his spirituality and pastoral theology.
Conclusion: How loudly will Leo ‘roar’?
The first month of Leo XIV was defined by silence, listening and discreet gestures, but full of symbolism and strategy. Without rushing into ruptures, the Pope has become a model of reconciliation, doctrinal clarity and organic renewal – which, according to Gagliarducci – signals ‘a continuity with Francis, without confusion or abrupt discontinuity’.
If Francis was elected to shake things up – as he said to the young people at WYD: ‘hagan lío’ – comparing the Church to a ‘field hospital’ or a ‘multifaceted polyhedron’, Leo XIV seems destined to pick up the pieces and promote unity. His name – an evocation of Leo XIII – and the tone of his first message to the cardinals refer to a Church in search of balance and hope, founded on a breath of tranquil breeze rather than thunder and on a prophetic cry to Heaven rather than a roar to enemies.
It is plausible that Christian unity will be at the centre of his pontificate. His inaugural trip to Nicaea (to celebrate the 1,700th anniversary of the Council) takes on a decisive symbolic role, in an Augustinian logic. His coat of arms and his first pronouncements reinforce this perspective, making it clear that the urgency is to sow communion before confrontation.
In the United States – his homeland and the scene of liturgical tensions – it will be crucial to see how he receives traditionalists. Francis’ pontificate has abandoned the ‘extraordinary form of the Roman Rite’ as Benedict XVI put it, opening wounds and creating ambiguities in documents such as Amoris Laetitia. Leo XIV, according to sources such as Gagliarducci, tended to ‘reaffirm traditional teaching with elegance’ and avoid abrupt ruptures
His actions on the abuse scandals – the Zanchetta and Rupnik cases, which are still unresolved, with reputational and legal consequences – are also eagerly awaited. How Leo positions himself in relation to these ‘poisoned gifts’ from the previous pontificate will be a testament to his pastoral and political sensitivity.
Finally, it is to be hoped that Leo XIV – a man who harmoniously embodies three ecclesial worlds: North America, the global South and the European tradition – will fully reassume the classic vocation of the pontifex: the builder of bridges; bridges between factions within the Church, between cultures and theological sensibilities, between the past and the future, between faith and reason, between the centre and the peripheries. His inaugural message evoked the image of a people ‘always at peace, but ready to serve’, and his style, marked by attentive listening and sobriety of gesture, suggests that the strength of his pontificate will lie in lucid serenity, not stormy rhetoric. Perhaps the real ‘roar’ of Leo XIV will be the mixture of an eloquent shout and a pacifying silence.
By Rafael Tavares
The post Leo XIV: the first month of his pontificate and the direction of a new era for the Church appeared first on Gaudium Press.
Leo XIV: the first month of his Pontificate and the direction of a new era for the Church
It is to be hoped that Leo XIV – a man who harmoniously embodies three ecclesial worlds: North America, the global south and the European tradition – will fully reassume the classic pontifical vocation of the pontifex: the builder of bridges; bridges between factions within the Church, between cultures and theological sensibilities, between the past and the future, between faith and reason, between the centre and the peripheries.
The post Leo XIV: the first month of his Pontificate and the direction of a new era for the Church appeared first on Gaudium Press.
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