Shared Social Media Posts for Years, Criticizing Trump
There have been reports predicting that Pope Leo XIV, the 267th pope, will take a relatively progressive stance on issues such as immigration and climate change, but is expected to maintain a somewhat conservative position on gender issues, including the status of LGBTQ+ individuals and women.
On May 9, Yonhap News cited the New York Times (NYT), an American daily, reporting that even Pope Francis was perceived as a conservative cardinal in his home country of Argentina until he was elected pope in 2013.
The report went on to predict that while Leo XIV is likely to express strong support for immigrants, the poor, and the exploited as a pastor, he is unlikely to take as provocative an approach as his predecessor, Pope Francis.
It was also projected that within the Catholic Church, he is not expected to immediately move to change doctrines such as the prohibition on artificial contraception or the teachings regarding the status of homosexual men. Regarding the possibility of allowing the ordination of female deacons, it was pointed out that the traditional stance of 'not permitting' is likely to be maintained for the time being. Although research on the validity of this issue is being conducted within the Catholic Church, no implementation has taken place so far.
Citing a church historian, the report noted that while Leo XIV basically shares similar positions with Francis, he has refrained from direct involvement in divisive social issues. For several years prior to his election as pope, Leo XIV often shared posts or articles on social media that strongly criticized the policies of both the first and second Trump administrations. However, it was rare for him to post content that he had written himself.
The American weekly magazine Time assessed that "there is still much that is unknown." However, it noted that Leo XIV is considered a centrist, and reviewed his positions on key issues as seen from his statements and actions during his time as Robert Francis Prevost, before ascending to the papacy.
On September 30, 2023 (local time), at St. Peter's Square in the Vatican, Pope Francis (center in the photo) ordained 21 new cardinals, including Robert Francis Prevost (right), then Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops, as cardinals. Vatican City AFP Yonhap News Photo by AFP
Regarding the issue of LGBTQ+ individuals within the Catholic Church, it was predicted that Leo XIV will take a somewhat more conservative stance than his predecessor, Pope Francis.
Previously, in July 2023, Pope Francis stated in a reply to five conservative cardinals that blessings for same-sex couples could be permitted in certain cases. The Vatican released this letter in October 2023. However, in October 2024, Cardinal Prevost expressed a position that appeared to step back from the progressive attitude of Pope Francis.
Meanwhile, Pope Leo XIV was appointed as a cardinal by his predecessor, Pope Francis. In 2023, Pope Francis elevated him to the rank of cardinal and appointed him Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops. The Dicastery for Bishops is a key department within the Vatican responsible for overseeing appointments such as the selection of bishops worldwide. During his tenure as prefect, he led Pope Francis's reform initiative to include women for the first time in the voting panel that determines the list of bishop candidates.
The New York Times (NYT) reported that amid various ideological factions debating between a pope who would continue Francis's inclusive agenda and one who would return to conservative doctrine, a "balanced centrist" emerged as the preferred alternative. The BBC in the United Kingdom described him as "a figure who can build bridges between different worlds." Analysts noted that expectations were high for a pope who could lead the Church from division toward unity.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
