Because the world welcomes Pope Leo XIV, many are discovering hope within the promise of increasing the legacy of Pope Francis — a shepherd who reshaped the Catholic Church by drawing it nearer to the poor, the excluded and the wounded. This second of transition is not only ceremonial. It’s a non secular and ethical inflection level.
In his first public phrases as pope, Leo XIV proclaimed: “We now have to hunt collectively to be a missionary church. A church that builds bridges and dialogue.” That single sentence alerts continuity with the soul of Francis’ papacy — and in addition expenses us with one thing pressing: to construct.
For the file:
12:58 p.m. Might 9, 2025An earlier model of this piece dropped phrases from the quote of Pope Leo’s balcony speech. He characterised Pope Francis’ voice not solely as “weak,” but in addition “at all times brave.”
However even earlier than these phrases had been uttered, Catholics worldwide ought to perceive the deep significance of the title, Leo. Pope Leo XIV now carries a reputation steeped in social custom. Leo XIII first framed staff’ rights and financial dignity as sacred floor in “Rerum Novarum.” This 1891 encyclical revolutionized Catholic engagement with the fashionable world. It emerged throughout an period of large industrial upheaval, as staff confronted unparalleled exploitation and basic assaults on human dignity — a time not in contrast to at this time. The selection of the title Leo is a really particular act, signaling the items of the brand new pope.
The values that animated Francis — mercy, justice, human dignity and look after creation — had been championed by his predecessors, Popes John Paul II and Benedict XVI. However Francis lived them with putting readability, embodying them not simply in educating, however in motion and encounter.
Over the previous decade, I had the privilege of working alongside Francis by way of a Vatican workplace for human rights and social and financial justice. I additionally served as a delegate to worldwide gatherings of grassroots organizers that Francis convened to middle the voices of the poor. By way of that work, I witnessed firsthand the imaginative and prescient that outlined his papacy.
In 2015, on the church’s World Assembly of Common Actions, I heard Francis decry “the unfettered pursuit of cash” as a “new colonialism” and lifted up the sacred rights of housing, labor and land. “The way forward for humanity,” he stated, “is within the palms of peoples and of their capacity to prepare.”
4 years later, I met him once more and gave him a picture from Dolores Mission in Los Angeles depicting Mary and Jesus as migrants. I requested what message I might carry house. He smiled, pointed to my coronary heart, and stated: “Quédate con el pueblo.” Stick with the individuals.
That’s the name the church inherits. Pope Leo XIV honored its spirit when he stated, “Allow us to preserve in our hearts the weak however at all times brave voice of Pope Francis that blesses Rome. … God loves us. God loves everybody. Evil is not going to prevail.”
At this second of change and chance, 4 ideas that Francis lived, and that Leo XIV has begun to echo, should information the church.
Cultivating encounter In a time of social fragmentation and loneliness, the church should grow to be a house for relationships. One in 5 Individuals studies having no shut confidant. Loneliness is now thought of as harmful to well being as smoking 15 cigarettes a day.
Francis reminded us: “We don’t love ideas or concepts; we love individuals.” Catholic parishes are among the many final locations the place individuals of various races, courses and generations collect. However they need to grow to be areas of belonging and mission, not simply Sunday obligation.
Neighborhood organizing provides one path ahead. By way of small-group listening and storytelling, parishes can grow to be faculties of shared goal. Because the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. has been paraphrased, “Church just isn’t the place you come to — it’s the place you go from.”
Integral human improvement That is the title of the Vatican workplace I collaborated with. Its work with migrants, warfare refugees, peacemakers, the poor and staff relies on the idea that non secular formation and social transformation go hand in hand. We want contemplative observe and emotional and non secular resilience to navigate this age of uncertainty.
Integral human improvement means resisting the binary considering so widespread in politics and the media, looking for fact past ideology, and main with mercy. In a world of concern and division, these are usually not luxuries, they’re necessities.
Civic management Francis challenged the church to grow to be “bruised, hurting and soiled as a result of it has been out on the streets,” slightly than trapped in self-preservation. In the meantime, inequality, local weather collapse and democratic erosion threaten the widespread good. Within the 2024 election, California alone noticed 1.7 million fewer ballots than in 2020. Too many individuals really feel invisible or discarded.
The church should comply with Jesus’ name to be the salt of the Earth and lightweight of the world. Salt preserves. Mild reveals. A Salt and Mild Motion would assist Catholics set up relationships throughout distinction, arrange domestically and convey Gospel values to public life. As one priest instructed me of marching within the 1963 March on Washington: “It perpetually modified my understanding of who God is.”
Ethical management We face a disaster of braveness. Francis warned that “worry leads us to really feel trapped” and paralyzed. His reply was pleasure, creativeness, and public witness. Leo XIV appears able to proceed that witness, by “at all times looking for peace and justice. In search of to work with women and men who’re devoted to Jesus Christ with out worry to proclaim the gospel.”
The world wants us to not be detached or hopeless within the midst of darkness. The world wants individuals of religion and goodwill who select to come across their neighbors, increase their circle of human concern and summon the braveness to behave in civic life for peace, justice and the care of our widespread house. Pope Leo XIV is a spark of sunshine that provides us religion {that a} extra compassionate and inclusive church and world are doable. Might he information, as Francis stated, “with humility and conviction this means of change.”
Joseph Tomás Mckellar is govt director of PICO California, a statewide faith-based organizing community. He collaborated with Pope Francis by way of the Vatican Dicastery for Selling Integral Human Improvement and served as a delegate to a number of World Conferences of Common Actions.
