It’s a sign you’re getting older when popes start getting younger. A huge welcome to Pope Leo XIV. He has become Pope at the age of 69, while his predecessor had reached the age of 76 – the age at which most senior RC clergy retire – before his calling to the papacy.
The Guardian describes the first US pope as “moderate” and “good-humoured”, and talks of colleagues who recall a “calm and grounded leader capable of moderating between factions”. These human qualities are hugely important in any leader, but particularly one within a large and diverse organisation and one which tries to follow a deeply ethical and spiritual path.
He was an unexpected choice, not listed on any of the endless accounts of possible successors to Pope Francis, and was strangely chosen very swiftly, by the end of the second day of the conclave. He’s been a cardinal for little more than two years. It was also strange to see a second pope in succession with strong Latin American associations, when there had never been a Latin American pope prior to Pope Francis.
What does this tell us? I think it tells us that this is a genuine process of discernment. No one is counting how many or where from. Instead they are seeking to find the person most suited to the job, whatever the immediate optics.
The Guardian reminds us that “while his appointment is likely to be welcomed by progressive factions within the church, it was probably not the news that some of his more conservative, Trump-aligned US brother cardinals had been hoping for.” It concludes: “Prevost’s recent CV also makes clear his proximity to Francis and he will doubtless be seen by many as a surprise, if welcome, kind of continuity candidate”.
Read the Guardian article here.
US financier and committed Catholic, Anthony Scaramucci, speaking on the podcast, ‘The Rest is Politics’, last night, said: “….This is … a statement of our times. I don’t think it’s a political statement as much as it is the church trying to frame itself for the future”…..It’s a message of moral leadership and this is a message of balance, … a message about directionally where the church is going to go, which is counter to nationalistic movements”.
Read about Pope Leo XIV’s background and beliefs here.
A Guardian article a few days ago, listed the urgent issues to be faced by the Pope after the excitement of his appointment. These include church unity, sexual abuse, church governance issues and Vatican finances, among others.
Read the article here.