The first month of Leo XIV. He will not make decisions to be popular, nor will he be hasty

On the contrary, what is slowly coming to the fore a month after his election on May 8 is a generational change in leadership—it can be said that we are starting to see a „original“ pontificate, led by a calm and capable shepherd who prefers continuity but at the same time has a relaxed and balanced nature, the ability to build bridges, and the independent vision needed to determine his direction.

“Generational” because he was the first pope since the Second Vatican Council and was not in a seminary or a priest at the time of the council. This fact distances the first US-born pope from the great conciliar debates and controversies of the late 20th and early 21st centuries.

In this context, his choice of papal name takes on even greater importance, as he wisely connected with the last Leo, the founder of Catholic social doctrine, who ruled more than a century ago, and not with its closer predecessor.

At the same time, this choice of connection speaks of the independent spirit that many people seem to appreciate about the new Holy Father.

Respect for the predecessor and your path

From the first moments of his pontificate, Leo emphasized communicating continuity with Pope Francis, who emphatically did the opposite.

In his first homilies, the new pope repeatedly referred to Francis, adopting, for example, the call to the synodal church and praying at his predecessor’s grave.

At the same time, he sent clear signals that he was himself.

One notable way he did this is by taking all the hallmarks of papal power. From the moment he first appears on the apostolic balcony, he wears a mozzetta, a red cloak that falls halfway down his shoulders. He recently started wearing white pants under his cassock. He did this not as a sign of opposition to Pope Francis, who famously wore black trousers, but rather to give strength and importance to the signs and symbols of the institutional church.

Another signal came in his homily on June 1, on the occasion of the Jubilee of Families, Children, Grandparents and Old People, when Leo quoted the encyclical Humane vitae Saint Paul VI. and noted, „that marriage is not an ideal, but an expression of true love between a man and a woman: love that is complete, faithful and fruitful. This love makes you one body and allows you to give life in God’s image“.

In their simplicity, these words mean a change of direction compared to the previous pontificate, since in Francis’s disputed post-synodal exhortation Amor is Laetitia, Christian marriage has been repeatedly cited as an ideal.

Mission in the peripheries

Like Francis, Leo knows the necessity of going to the peripheries. However, as a long-time missionary in Peru, he has already emphasized the evangelistic work that needs to be done there.

The Pope confirmed the mission’s involvement in these places, because „ lack of faith often brings with it tragedies, such as losing the meaning of life, forgetting mercy, violating a person’s dignity in its most dramatic forms, family crisis and many other wounds that affect our society“.

„The Church can never refrain from telling the truth about man and the world,“ said a, if necessary, resort to honest language that can cause some initial misunderstanding.“

While there is a sense of paradigm shift from Pope Francis, who focused on evangelism, speaking the language of the world, Leo XIV shows no opposition to his predecessor. It is not a pontificate against something or in favor of something, but rather a mission pontificate.

Government line

Mission-focused continuity is also highlighted in its first management approach.

For the time being, he maintained the appointments introduced by the previous pontificate, including Francis’ appointment of Tatiana Merletti from the Congregation of Franciscan Poor to the position of secretary of the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life.

The departure of Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia from the Pontifical Academy for Life and from the position of rector of the Pontifical Theological Institute of John Paul II. for the study of marriage and family was expected as he turned 80 years old.

The Pope entrusted Cardinal Baldassare Reina, the Pope’s vicar for the Diocese of Rome, and therefore also the rector of the Pontifical Lateran University, to lead the institute, which foreshadowed the union of the institute and the university. At the same time, for the next four years, Mons. Confirmed the president of the institute in his seat. Philippe Bordeyne. Even in the Academy for Life, Leo XIV decided on continuity when he promoted the rector, Msgr. Renza Pegorara.

Nevertheless, a generational change is approaching. In addition to having to choose his successor in the Dicastery for bishops, he will have to exchange prefects for the causes of saints, the cult of God and the discipline of the sacraments, the promotion of Christian unity, integral human development, the laity, family and life – all have exceeded the retirement age of 75.

However, each pope will follow priorities. In assembling his team, Leo has to cope with the need to introduce a governmental modus operandi into the church to deal with some complex matters, especially regarding the Sing-Vatican agreement. The next round of meetings on this issue should occur as early as next week.

From Leo’s experience as head of the Augustinians, bishop, and prefect, we know that he prefers the introduction of structured management based on priorities to micromanagement or large-scale early changes. He will intervene when he deems it appropriate, as he has already made clear to those who, as is always the case at the beginning of the pontificate, appeared at his door to make some demands.

He will not make decisions to be popular, nor will he be hasty.

The future of the church

Leo XIV, in ordaining 11 priests for the Diocese of Rome on May 31, called for a „life that is known, a life that is readable, a trusted life!“

„We are in God’s people so that we can stand before them with a credible testimony,“ continued. „ Together, then, we will restore the credibility of the wounded church sent to wounded humanity in the wounded creation. We are not perfect yet, but we need to be trustworthy.“

In this way, the Pope did not point the finger at unfaithful priests, but, on the contrary, asked everyone to be faithful. In this, too, we can recognize his modus operandi of church management. First faith and then infrastructure, whether liturgical, historical or social. Leo can do this precisely because he is the pope of a new generation.

Pope Benedict XVI in the book Earth salt conducted in the form of interviews with Peter Seewald, he stated that he is still a man of the old world, but the new world has not yet begun.

He started with this pope. He is the Pope of three worlds: American, missionary in Latin America and a deep connoisseur of Roman realities.