Pope Francis XIV, in his first major interview, said No ordination of women or same-sex marriages; victims of abuse also have rights.

The Pope also spoke about the risks of artificial intelligence, blessing same-sex couples, and supporting victims of abuse.

In his first major interview, Pope Francis said that there will be no ordination of women or same-sex marriages, and that in cases of abuse, the accused also have rights.

He reiterated that there will be no ordination of women or same-sex marriages, and that in cases of abuse, the accused also have rights.

These days, a book of interviews with Pope Leo XIV by American journalist and Vaticanist Elise Ann Allen from the Crux Now portal is being published in Spanish. Based on two interviews, the publication is titled León XIV: Ciudadano del mundo, misionero del siglo XXI (Leo XIV: Citizen of the World, Missionary of the 21st Century). Allen met with the Pope on 10 July in Castel Gandolfo and on 30 July in his apartment in Piazza del Sant’Uffizio. Both interviews lasted approximately 1.5 hours. The English and Portuguese editions are scheduled for release in early 2026. Excerpts from the interviews were published on 14 September, the Pope’s 70^(th) birthday, with more published four days later.

The Pope shared with Allen his childhood, his arrival in Peru as a young missionary, and his pastoral experiences during a turbulent period for Peruvian society, which had shaped him.

He also spoke about his service as Prior General of the Augustinians and his service as bishop in Peru.

Preserving the spirit of sodality does not necessarily mean maintaining all structures.

Allen also discusses the topic of synodality with the Pope. The Pope fully supports Francis’ synodality, especially openness, willingness to understand others, and the involvement of every member of the Church through prayer and reflection.

At the same time, Leo XIV states that preserving the spirit of synodality does not necessarily mean maintaining all the structures, procedures, and systems that Francis has established, such as round tables or “conversations in spirit,” which some consider liberating. In contrast, others find them unclear or lacking significant substance.

Another topic covered in the book is sexual abuse within the Church. According to the Pope, it is essential to show authentic and deep compassion for victims and sensitivity towards them. He expressed understanding for their frustration with the delays, but also warned against the risk of false accusations that can destroy a priest’s life.

‘Victims must be treated with great respect and understanding. Those who have suffered deep wounds as a result of abuse sometimes carry these wounds with them for their entire lives,’ said the Pope. While Leo XIV acknowledges the need to treat victims with sensitivity and compassion, he also stresses the importance of safeguarding the rights of the accused.

‘People are increasingly saying that the accused also have rights, and many believe that these rights have not been respected.’ The Pope emphasised that, in more than 90 per cent of cases, allegations of abuse are substantiated. However, he added that there are also priests whose lives have been ruined by false accusations.

While it is important to punish perpetrators of violence and offer financial compensation to victims, the Holy Father says that these steps alone are not enough. ‘It would be naive of me or anyone else to think that, even if we have provided financial compensation and dealt with the cause by dismissing the priest, these wounds will simply disappear,’ he said.

According to the Pope, victims of abuse who have suffered deep pain need to be supported by the Church. ‘They, too, are part of the Church; they still want to be part of it. I know people who have left the Church because of the pain they have suffered, and their choice must be respected.’

According to Pope Leo XIV, the Church must improve its support for victims. ‘I think many of us are still learning how best to support these people through their suffering. In my opinion, this is one area where we still need the help of experts.’

The Pope also acknowledged the frustration of victims and critics of the Church that legal proceedings take too long.

The Church will not change its doctrine on marriage

Another section of the published book interview deals with LGBTI Catholics. Pope Prevost says that his stance will be similar to that of his predecessor, namely, one of welcome without changing Church teaching.

‘I am trying to express what Francis said very clearly: “Todos, todos, todos” (everyone, everyone, everyone). The Church invites everyone, not because of their identity, but because they are a child of God.’

Pope Francis currently has no specific plans to engage with the LGBTI community, but he has emphasized the importance of inclusion. At the same time, however, he defends the traditional family based on marriage between a man and a woman. During the synod, he claims that a cardinal from the Global East told him that the Western world is obsessed with sexuality.

‘For some people, human identity is exclusively about sexual identity. For many people in other parts of the world, however, this is not a primary issue in terms of how we should treat each other,’ said the Pope, acknowledging that this topic is a highly polarizing issue within the Church. He noted that many people want the Church to change its doctrine on homosexuality. Still, he expressed his conviction that ‘before we even begin to consider changing what the Church says on any issue, we must change attitudes’. The pontiff considers it very unlikely that the Church’s doctrine on sexuality and marriage will change in the near future. In the interview, he also criticised church groups in Northern Europe for organising ceremonial blessings of same-sex couples.

According to the head of the Church, these actions are contrary to the document Fiducia supplicans, which states that “we can bless everyone, but we are not looking for a way to ritualize a certain kind of blessing, because that is not what the Church teaches.”

“Individuals will be welcomed and accepted,” he said, adding that priests who regularly hear confessions have listened to “all people” with “all their life situations and decisions they have made” and will not judge, but for now, “the teaching of the Church will remain as it is.”

Leo XIV claims that during his visit to Rome, he already raised the issue of “human dignity and how important it is for all people, regardless of where they were born, to find ways to respect human beings” with US Vice President J. D. Vance.

“It is clear that certain things are happening in the United States that are cause for concern,” the Pope notes.

On the subject of women’s roles, the Pope openly states that he intends to follow in his predecessor’s footsteps, including appointing women to certain leadership positions. However, he will not further explore the issue of women’s ordination, as it is controversial and causes tension. “For now, I have no intention of changing the Church’s teaching in this area.”

Regarding the pre-conciliar Mass, Leo XIV warns that the situation has become unmanageable and has led to polarisation. He believes that it can be discussed to reach a reasonable agreement.

The Pope also argues that the reform of the Roman Curia carried out by Francis requires adjustments. ‘Some of the decisions taken probably need to be adjusted.’ He also revealed that the Vatican’s finances are not as bad as assumed, although the pension fund does need to be analyzed.

Another part of the interview is devoted to artificial intelligence, a topic that concerns the successor to St Peter. ‘It will be very difficult to discover God’s presence in artificial intelligence. In human relationships, we can at least find signs of God’s presence.’

The Pope also expressed concern about fake news, admitting that he has “little tolerance for those who talk about alternative facts”. ‘No, facts are facts,’ he said.

After his election, he revealed that someone had created a fake video of him falling down the stairs. “Why do people consume fake news like this?” Something is going on. People want to believe in conspiracies; they seek out fake information, and that is destructive,” he commented.

He also revealed that someone had recently asked him for permission to create an artificial pope with a website where people could arrange private audiences and ask questions. “I said I wouldn’t approve it. If an avatar shouldn’t represent anyone, then I think it should be the Pope,” he concluded.