Pope Leo XIV says his primary role as leader of the Church is confirming Catholics in their faith and sharing the Gospel with the world, not resolving global crises. Source: CNA.
Speaking to Crux senior correspondent Elise Ann Allen in the first sit-down interview of his pontificate, Leo also said he was “trying not to continue to polarise or promote polarisation in the Church.”
Leo’s first formal interview as pope took place in two sessions for the biography Leo XIV: Citizen of the World, Missionary of the 21st Century, by Allen, out now in Spanish and next year in English.
“I don’t see my primary role as trying to be the solver of the world’s problems. I don’t see my role as that at all, really, although I think that the Church has a voice, a message that needs to continue to be preached, to be spoken and spoken loudly,” he said.
Pope Leo also explained how he plans to tackle divisive issues in the Church, including his approach to LGBT debates, the possibility of women deacons and the Traditional Latin Mass.
Leo said he is aware that the Church’s teaching on sexual morality is a highly polarising topic, and though he welcomes everyone in the Church, he does not intend to make changes — at least not anytime soon.
Signalling his intention to be in continuity with Franciss’ open approach, he said, “everyone’s invited in, but I don’t invite a person in because they are or are not of any specific identity”.
“I find it highly unlikely, certainly in the near future, that the Church’s doctrine in terms of what the Church teaches about sexuality, what the Church teaches about marriage, [will change],” he said.
Another change the Pope said he will not be making at the moment is allowing the ordination of women deacons.
He expressed throughout the interview his willingness to sit down with, and hear out, anyone’s point of view, including proponents of the Traditional Latin Mass — though he has not made up his mind about how to resolve tensions over its celebration.
“Between the Tridentine Mass and the Vatican II Mass, the Mass of Paul VI, I’m not sure where that’s going to go. It’s obviously very complicated,” he added. “It’s become a political tool, and that’s very unfortunate.”
FULL STORY
Pope Leo XIV: My priority is the Gospel, not solving the world’s problems (By Hannah Brockhaus, CNA)
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