Habemus Papam, the world’s Roman Catholic Church has a new pope, Leo XIV, and “just like that,” as Forrest Gump would say, “we have a whole new ballgame,” as the baseball-loving American pope’s White Sox fans might say.
Hi, I’m Rex Rogers and this is episode #207 of Discerning What Is Best, a podcast applying unchanging biblical principles in a rapidly changing world, and a Christian worldview to current issues and everyday life.
Habemus Papam, the world’s Roman Catholic Church has a new Pope, Leo XIV. While I am not Catholic, I nevertheless watch this transition with interest because it is not only steeped in history, tradition, and Catholic theology, but because the new pope immediately becomes a leader with global influence. Who is he really? What are his theological, social, economic, and political views, and how will he articulate them?
This occasion was precipitated by the death of Pope Francis, Apr. 21, 2025. “Pope Francis was known for his politically progressive stance on issues like climate change and immigration, while also maintaining traditional Catholic views on matters like abortion and same-sex marriage…Throughout his papacy, Francis was noted for his humility, emphasis on God's mercy, international visibility, commitment to interreligious dialogue, and concern for the poor, migrants, and refugees. Francis believed the Catholic Church should demonstrate more inclusivity to LGBTQ people, and stated that although blessings of same-sex unions are not permitted, individuals in same-sex relationships can be blessed as long as the blessing is not given in a liturgical context.”
“Concerning global governance, Francis was a critic of trickle-down economics, consumerism, and overdevelopment; he made action on climate change a leading focus of his papacy. He viewed capital punishment as inadmissible in all cases, and committed the Catholic Church to its worldwide abolition. Francis criticized the rise of right-wing populism and anti-immigration politics, calling the protection of migrants a "duty of civilization."
In a word, Pope Francis positioned himself and his influence on the Church as a political liberal.
While I can salute Pope Francis’s genuine concern for the marginalized, I have to say respectfully that I disagreed with most of what Pope Francis represented, and at times I longed for what we had with Pope John Paul II, a conservative who aligned with Ronald Regan and Margaret Thatcher to help bring down the Soviet Empire in their day.
Pope Francis’s legacy upon the Church and the world is, therefore, debatable. In the U.S. Roman Catholic Church, “divisions, which mirror more generalized political polarization in the U.S., are evident in a host of issues: immigration, same-sex couples, climate change and the role of women in the Church, among other issues. The split has grown wider in recent years as a growing segment of conservative Catholics becomes increasingly vocal and assertive. Pope Francis…saw his popularity decline in the U.S. over time as the conservative influence helped shape opinions: in 2024, about 75% of U.S. Catholics viewed Francis favorably, down from about 90% in 2015, according to a Pew Research Poll…In their politics, U.S. Catholics have swung more conservative, with right-wing media and Trump-era culture wars combining as powerful influence within the church. Catholics voted for Trump 59%-39% over Democrat Kamala Harris in the November presidential election, a 12-percentage point swing from 2020.”
“The share of Americans who describe themselves as Catholic has changed little over the last decade, hovering around 20%, according to Pew Research. During that time, the Church has been rocked by sex abuse scandals that have resulted in costly legal settlements and bankruptcies, while dragging on church attendance and donations. A number of U.S. dioceses, including in (Pope) Leo's hometown of Chicago, have been forced to close churches, while others have fallen into disrepair. Despite (Pope) Francis' cost-cutting efforts and financial management, the Vatican faces an $94.22 million budget shortfall…and a much larger funding gap in its pension fund.”
The question now is, will Pope Leo XIV continue and solidify Pope Francis’s ideological program, or will Pope Leo opt for a different path, perhaps one that, if not conservative as such, then is at least more centrist in his views? And will he present his views differently, perhaps choosing to make comments in homilies as opposed to public political pronouncements and criticisms of other leaders? At the moment, we only have clues from Pope Leo’s time as a priest, bishop, and cardinal.
But one word of caution: there are many examples of appointed leaders who believed and acted one way before their appointment but turned out to be quite different in high office. More than one American president has been disappointed by what his Supreme Court appointees became.
“In a 2012 address to bishops, (then Robert) Prevost accused the news media and popular culture for encouraging “sympathy for beliefs and practices that are at odds with the Gospel.” Among those “beliefs and practices” he cited were the “homosexual lifestyle” and “alternative families comprised of same-sex partners and their adopted children…While bishop of Chiclayo in northwestern Peru, Prevost opposed a government initiative to promote gender ideology teachings in schools. He said, “The promotion of gender ideology is confusing, because it seeks to create genders that don’t exist.” On social media, Prevost strongly supported the Catholic Church’s anti-abortion stance. In 2015, Prevost posted a photograph from the March For Life rally in Chiclayo, exhorting his followers: “Let’s defend human life at all times!...
Prevost has expressed opposition to capital punishment, reflecting the Catholic Church’s position and Francis’s commitment to see the practice ended worldwide. In 2016, Prevost reposted a Catholic News Agency article in which citizens of Belgium, where euthanasia is legal, urged Canadians not to support legislation that would allow for assisted suicides. “’Don’t go there’ – Belgians plead with Canada not to pass euthanasia law #Prolife,” read the tweet that Prevost shared. In October 2017, Prevost retweeted a call for new US gun control from Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) after a gunman murdered 60 people in Las Vegas. “To my colleagues: your cowardice to act cannot be whitewashed by thoughts and prayers. None of this ends unless we do something to stop it,” Murphy wrote in the tweet shared by the new pope.”
Meanwhile, it appears “Pope Francis and Pope Leo XIV are committed to social justice and environmental stewardship. Pope Francis was vocal about the need for action against climate change and emphasized the Church's role in advocating for the marginalized. Similarly, Pope Leo XIV has signaled alignment with these priorities, advocating for stronger Church action against climate change and emphasizing a reciprocal relationship with the environment.”
Pope Francis made critical remarks about the Trump Administration’s attempt to make the US southern border safe, emphasize legal immigration, and return illegals to their homelands. “Pope Leo…has been openly critical of current immigration policies and has expressed support for social justice movements, including those addressing police brutality.” Hopefully, the new Pope understands the difference between legal and illegal immigration.
Given the number of misguided leaders who in recent years declared climate change the number one existential threat – Biden, Kerry, Pope Francis, more – and given Pope Leo’s leaning toward climate change concerns, I was pleased to note that his comments in his first mass highlighted AI as posing "new challenges for the defense of human dignity, justice and labor. And he drew parallels between the AI and Industrial Revolutions, saying the Church must lead in confronting AI's threats to workers and human dignity. AI is a big unknown that, like any innovation, offers pros and cons, so I’ll take this from Pope Leo, glad that he did not throw himself on the altar of climate change religion.
I was also pleased to note that Pope Leo said, “It is essential that we too repeat, with Peter: "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God" (Mt 16:16). It is essential to do this, first of all, in our personal relationship with the Lord, in our commitment to a daily journey of conversion. Then, to do so as a Church, experiencing together our fidelity to the Lord and bringing the Good News to all.” With all this I agree.
But then Pope Leo ended his mass with “May God grant me this grace, today and always, through the loving intercession of Mary, Mother of the Church.” While this is traditional Catholic doctrine, with this I cannot agree, for the Scripture clearly says in 1 Tim. 2:5-6, “For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.” And Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (Jn 14:6).
While Mary, the mother of Jesus, not the Church, is respected and honored in the Bible, and there is much to learn from her obedience and humility before God, nowhere in Scripture is she considered divine, nowhere is she called an intercessor.
To be open and dispassionate about this, we will need to give Pope Leo XIV time to speak. I pray he will know the truth in Jesus Christ and make Him known, that the Pope will point to the Gospel, not the Church per se, and that he will focus more on applied theology than ideological or partisan politics.
Well, we’ll see you again soon. This podcast is about Discerning What Is Best. If you find this thought-provoking and helpful, follow us on your favorite podcast platform. Download an episode for your friends. For more Christian commentary, check my website, r-e-x-m as in Martin, that’s rexmrogers.com. Or check my YouTube channel @DrRexRogers for more podcasts and video.
And remember, it is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm.
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