Skip to content

One year in, Pope Leo XIV emphasizes pastoral and ecological priorities

cultureMay 9, 202657591

Pope Leo XIV, the Chicago-born pontiff, marked his first year by doubling down on Francis's ecological agenda while making pastoral outreach a central priority. Catholic leaders in Africa praised his emphasis on accompaniment and local ministry as evidence of that pastoral focus. He also entered public disputes with U.S. leaders, most notably trading barbs with former President Donald Trump over immigration and U.S. policy on the war in Iran. That mix of ecological advocacy, pastoral attention, and willingness to confront U.S. policymakers is reshaping Vatican priorities and could steer Catholic engagement on climate, migration, and foreign policy.

3 sources