Pope Leo XIV: A New Approach to Leadership

In his inaugural month as Pope, Leo XIV is charting a markedly different course from his predecessor, Pope Francis. Elected as the first pope from the United States on May 8, Leo, formerly Cardinal Robert Prevost, has participated in approximately two dozen public events. However, he has yet to make significant appointments, announce any foreign trips, or clarify his living arrangements at the Vatican.

This stands in sharp contrast to Francis, who, shortly after his election in March 2013, made headlines by announcing plans to reside outside the Vatican’s apostolic palace, appointed his successor as Archbishop of Buenos Aires, and established a formal advisory group of senior cardinals. As Rev. Mark Francis, a longtime friend of Leo, notes, “Leo is taking his time. While he will follow the path indicated by Pope Francis, his approach is distinctly different.”

Leo’s journey to the papacy has been intertwined with Francis’s own. Appointed a bishop by Francis in 2015 and later chosen for a senior Vatican role by the late pope, Leo has consistently praised his predecessor. He has echoed some of Francis’s many appeals, including emotional pleas for an end to the conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine, yet their temperaments diverge significantly. Rev. Francis highlights this difference, stating, “Leo is much more focused and methodical, and not inclined to hasty decisions.”

Listening and Learning

One of Leo’s notable traits is his capacity for attentive listening, a quality that will serve him well as he faces various challenges, including the Vatican’s €83 million budget shortfall—an issue that has caused friction among senior cardinals under Francis’s leadership. Other pressing matters for the Church, which is home to 1.4 billion members, include declining membership in Europe, ongoing clergy sexual abuse revelations, and doctrinal debates surrounding the inclusion of LGBT Catholics and women’s ordination.

While Pope Francis aimed to modernize the Church, he stopped short of making formal changes to many doctrines, drawing criticism from conservative cardinals for his more open attitudes towards issues like communion for divorcees and blessings for same-sex couples. Rev. Anthony Pizzo, who has known Leo since the 1970s, explains that Leo is someone who “listens carefully and seeks to hear many viewpoints before making decisions.” According to Rev. Pizzo, this will be Leo’s operational approach: “When you first come into leadership, listen well, get to know your constituency to make a well-informed decision.”

A New Chapter

Francis and Leo entered the papacy under dissimilar circumstances. Francis, chosen at 76, had served as a cardinal for over a decade and was a significant figure during the 2005 conclave that elected Pope Benedict XVI. In contrast, Leo, at 58, is a newer face on the global stage, having only recently been elevated to cardinal and held a Vatican role. Most of his career prior to this was spent as a missionary in Peru.

Past comments from Francis suggest that he anticipated a brief papacy due to his age. Conversely, Leo, as the youngest pope since John Paul II, may have the opportunity for a longer term. Alongside the Vatican’s budget challenges is the reported €631 million gap in its pension fund, an issue highlighted by the Vatican’s finance czar in 2022, with estimates indicating it may have worsened since.

As he navigates these significant challenges, Leo has not yet publicized his plans regarding the budget, nor has he made many new appointments. Nevertheless, he has engaged in one-on-one meetings with senior Vatican officials. Rev. Jorge Martinez Vizueta, who has known Leo in Peru, emphasizes that he “listens a lot, even with a certain shyness.” While he has yet to announce where he will reside, sources indicate that he is likely to move into the official papal apartments overlooking St. Peter’s Square—spaces unoccupied since Francis opted for a Vatican hotel.

Looking Ahead

While Francis made several swift decisions during his initial month, he too took time to ponder more complex issues, not embarking on his first foreign trip until late July 2013—four months into his tenure. Leo’s inaugural overseas journey may be to Turkey, celebrating the 1,700th anniversary of an early Church council alongside Patriarch Bartholomew, the spiritual leader of the Eastern Orthodox Church.

Though the Vatican hasn’t confirmed the trip, discussions have occurred regarding Leo’s potential travel to Turkey later this year. Rev. Francis points out that Leo, having largely read from prepared texts, is likely to adopt a more cautious demeanor in his interactions with the press. “He won’t be shooting from the hip like Francis did while speaking with journalists,” he reflects.

As Pope Leo XIV begins to define his papacy, the world watches closely, eager to see how his listening approach and measured decision-making will shape the future of the Catholic Church.