Pope Leo XIV has made it clear that his papacy will be shaped by the guiding principles of the Second Vatican Council, missionary conversion, and a renewed focus on Christ as the center of the Church’s mission. In his first address to the College of Cardinals, delivered less than 48 hours after being elected, Pope Leo outlined his vision by referencing Pope Francis’ Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Gaudium and identifying seven key themes. According to Leo, the Church must prioritize “the return to the primacy of Christ in proclamation” and “the missionary conversion of the entire Christian community,” as stated in sections 9 and 11 of the document.
These themes also encompass collegiality and synodality (cf. No. 33), attention to the sensus fidei (cf. Nos. 119-120), loving care for the marginalized (cf. No. 53), courageous dialogue with contemporary society (cf. No. 84; Gaudium et Spes, 1-2), and the promotion of popular piety (cf. No. 123). While these priorities align with some aspects of Pope Francis’ papacy, Pope Leo also draws upon the teachings of Pope Benedict XVI. During his address, Leo referenced Benedict’s encyclical Spe Salvi to underscore the importance of Christ-centered ministry.
For those who had hoped for a more traditional papacy, the emphasis on Vatican II may be concerning. Bishop Athanasius Schneider voiced such concerns, suggesting that rather than focusing on Vatican II, the pope should prioritize the Gospel above all else. Schneider pointed out that the council was intended to be pastoral, not doctrinal, and cautioned against treating it as definitive Church teaching.
Despite such reservations, Pope Leo is emerging as a pontiff who seeks to blend the emphases of recent popes while forging his own path. Vatican observers have noted that his leadership style combines elements of Pope Francis’ synodality, Benedict’s theological clarity, and John Paul II’s charismatic outreach.
Leo’s choice of the regnal name also carries historical and symbolic weight. He explained that he chose the name Leo XIV in honor of Pope Leo XIII, who addressed the social upheaval of the Industrial Revolution through the landmark encyclical Rerum Novarum. Today, Leo XIV sees parallels between the challenges of the 19th century and the present-day moral dilemmas posed by artificial intelligence and industrial developments. “In our own day,” he said, “the Church offers to everyone the treasury of her social teaching in response to another industrial revolution and to developments in the field of artificial intelligence that pose new challenges for the defence of human dignity, justice and labour.”
Already, Pope Leo is establishing a more formal and dignified papal image, refraining from casual interactions and focusing on the weight of the Petrine ministry. “May it pass over the whole world like a great flame of faith and love kindled in all men and women of good will,” he said, echoing the words of Pope Paul VI. With his combination of Franciscan, Benedictine, and Leonine influences, Leo XIV seems poised to lead the Church in a direction that is both Christ-centered and socially aware, aiming to inspire a renewed sense of mission in an increasingly secularized world.
