Pope Leo Xiv, former Chicago-born cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, sent his first as both a Catholic church director on Friday, May 9, calling on the church to face an urgent global crisis of faith. Leo spoke enthusiastically about the need for new missionary outreach in society where faith is ridiculed, marginalized or replaced by materialism when he delivered a speech at the cardinal of Sistine Chapel the day after he was elected as the 267th pontiff.
Leo warns that Christian faith is often regarded as absurd or outdated today, which makes people lament the growing secularism, which makes many trust in technology, money, power, and pleasure. He describes a world where the loss of faith is accompanied by a wider erosion of meaning, compassion, and human dignity, pointing to social wounds, including family crises. “In certain places or circumstances, it is not easy to testify about the truth of the gospel and witness its truth,” the 69-year-old Pontiff said in Italian. “However, it is for this reason that they are places where our missionaries are desperately in need of propaganda.”
In a sharp criticism of modern Christian culture, the pope warned against simplifying Jesus to a charming leader or superhuman figure, saying that this portrayal also fueled what he called “practice atheism,” even among baptized Christians. In English, he begins by calling for unity among the cardinals, expressing his trust in their support when he begins the Pope.
Leo’s unexpected election at a closed-door meeting on Thursday, May 8 surprised many parts of the world. Leo only became a relatively new cardinal in 2023, having previously served as a missionary in Peru for twenty years and was known as the “Latin Yankee” in Rome. Thousands of people gathered in St Peter’s Square to greet him during his first public appearance on the balcony of the Pope, many of whom met him for the first time.
Although not as good as his predecessor than his predecessor, Francis’ missionary work and Peru’s pastoral reputation, he won admiration from clergy and laymen. Bishop Luis Alberto Barrera of El Callao praised Leo’s humility and dedication to the people during his time in the Andes. In his hometown of Chicago, locals celebrated the former altar boy’s ascension, rooted in the working-class south side of the city and even sparked debates on his preferred baseball team, which his brother later confirmed was the White Sox.
In his initial speech to believers on Thursday, May 8, Leo responded to Francis’ commitment to peace and outreach, urging the church to build bridges through dialogue and solidarity. His remarks emerged when world leaders welcomed the election of the American pope in election history.
Leo faces a complex and divided church, and a turbulent global landscape. He inherited unresolved crises, including the consequences of the documentary sexual abuse scandal and internal debates about doctrine and reform. As Cardinal Prest, he is known for supporting the poor, defending workers and opposing the anti-immigration policies of the United States. Nonetheless, former President Donald Trump welcomed Leo’s election as a “huge honor.”
Observers say the Leo election marks a continuation of Francis’ progressive legacy, with a softer spoken language. Italian Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi describes him as “a very simple man, very kind”, contrary to more confrontational characters. Leo’s actions and messages will be closely watched over the next few days as he begins to shape the direction of the church in its new chapter of 2,000-year history.
