“From Pope Francis to Pope Leo” was the theme of a thought-provoking discussion hosted by the Sydney Institute on July 7. Source: The Catholic Weekly.
The event opened with a talk given by Monica Doumit, director of public affairs and engagement at the Sydney Archdiocese, who considered the role the media will play in Pope Leo XIV’s papacy.
“If one were to describe the Francis pontificate as controversial at times, part of the reason would have to be that he was the first pontiff to live under intense scrutiny,” she said.
“While Pope Francis was the first pope to be elected in the era of YouTube, Facebook and Instagram, it could be Pope Leo who harnesses its evangelical power.”
She highlighted how the nature of the papacy may even change given the differing online presences of Pope Francis and Pope Leo.
“From Francis to Leo, we moved from someone who didn’t know how to use a computer to one who chose his name, in part, at least, because of developments in AI,” she said.
Ms Doumit’s lecture was followed by former Australian Catholic University vice-chancellor Greg Craven. His address began with a focus on the achievements of Pope Francis’ pontificate.
“Francis repopularised the papacy at a time when just about no religion was popular,” he said.
“And that’s a very big achievement, particularly in a time where we are seeing some sort of spiritual resurgence among youth.”
He concluded his speech by considering whether the legacy of the Francis pontificate would affect the transition and nature of Pope Leo’s papacy.
“I don’t think [Pope Leo] will overthrow the Franciscan model, but I don’t think he’s going to slavishly follow his predecessor,” he said.
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Sydneysiders consider Pope Leo’s papacy in a world of increased division and technological innovation (By Alex Woolnough, The Catholic Weekly)
