Leon XIV will have quite a few time to show his views. Whether it is simply a centre pope or a bit more conservative or a bit more liberal – in each of these cases – unless God surprises us with something – it will reflect a very strong mark on the Church due to the fact that it will be with us for a very long time.
Do we have a "pro-Trump" pontificate or the opposite?
I think it will have a discreetly “anti-Tramp” colour. This can be seen even after, as Cardinal Robert Provost, a fewer months ago, he was able to take a light start with current Vice president J. D. Vance at a time erstwhile he reminded of Catholic discipline about ordo caritatis - Order of love. It was about the global context: that first 1 should take care of one's own and only then about refugees. It was then that Cardinal Provost somewhat admonished him that Christ does not request to keep specified order—as notabene suggests that Cardinal Provost may not have full known the classical Catholic doctrine, but that is another issue.
It is crucial that this indeed indicates that there will be any hazard of opposition in terms of Trump's "refugee" policy. This, on the another hand, needs to be nuanced with a certain detail: we have a pope who will realize a small bit more what the Americans are talking about. He will not see them – as in Pope Francis – as a power that controls us, changes our governments, and so on. It seems to me that Pope Francis had a certain hostility towards the United States.
But there will be no specified form of hostility here. possibly it will be a pontificate more pro-American, but definitely not more pro-Trumpian. As far as global matters related to the 3rd planet countries – especially Latin America – are concerned, I think the fresh Pope will clearly argue the various actions of the president of the United States.
But the question is how far it will go. But even more so, they do have a common language, a common culture, a common origin, even if they come from another parts of the US. This will let a possible agreement. They can work together, even if there are political differences between them. I'm not acquainted with Cardinal Prevost's views, but if I had to guess, I would have suspected he was alternatively a politician voter.
During the preconclave meetings, it was said that 1 of the challenges that the future Pope would face is “an increase in nationalism.” I realize that this is about returning to the national interest, which in a sense represents the Trump administration in an global perspective.
I think we can alternatively anticipate the continuation of Pope Francis' line here. Especially since Cardinal Prevost, previously as a priest and bishop, spent much time in South America, from which he did not come. He was an outsider entering a certain another community. specified a situation always makes you a small "international" in your views.
So I think that here we can truly anticipate a somewhat "anti-national" line in terms of opposition to "nationalism". But here again the question remains, how deep it will be and what will result.
Doctor, the American Church points out to be rather divided between the 2 extremes, which can be personalized by silhouettes, on the 1 side, liberally – Cardinal McElroy, on the another hand, conservative – Cardinal Raymond Burke or Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone. What choice of card. May Prevosta announce in the context of the future of the Church in the United States?
It's hard to say clearly. It may be believed that Cardinal Prevost, now Pope Leon XIV, if he was associated with 1 of the parties in the American Church, would alternatively be closer to a liberal faction. His background and education in Chicago suggests that he was just closer there.
At the same time, it must be stressed: if he was indeed the superior of the Augustinian order while in the United States, he spent the overwhelming majority of his career as a bishop outside the country. This means that he will not be so closely associated with these factions, especially 1 of them. It may be that he looks at these 2 factions completely from the outside.
He never had any reason to get active with 1 side or the other. This gives any hope that he will neither strengthen this dispute nor stand firm on the liberal side. However, I think that if he has any sympathy, I fear that they will be located right there.
Before the conclave much was speculated that a cardinal would be elected from the "center". Is that what happened?
He must have enjoyed very broad acceptance if he had already been elected in the 4th vote. Clearly, there was indeed a chance to scope agreement present [on Thursday – PCh24.pl]. There was so a fast discussion and then a re-vote.
In fact, his views seem alternatively centerful, even more conservative. However, this is very hard to assess. It is simply a cardinal, of whom very small was known, but at the same time it was clearly very powerfully protégé by Pope Francis; a pope about whom it could not be said that he was centred. This suggests that we may simply not know his [Leon XIV] views fully. I think we'll see what happens in the future.
Certainly, given his age, he will have quite a few time to show his views. Whether it is simply a centre Pope or a bit more conservative or a bit more liberal – in each case, unless God surprises us with something, this Pope will repel a very strong mark on the Church due to the fact that he will be with us for a very long time.
A dilemma and a certain tension led to a conclave about what the cardinals should truly choose. any have pointed out that the Church faces many political challenges. There are besides voices that the pope's first task is to defend unity in faith, the invariable deposit of religion and the ruling of the Church in the right way.
If this pontificate had a strong political, global dimension, that would mean that it would indeed be hard not to associate it with president Trump. We have an American cardinal, which would propose any connection to the late elected leader of the United States. Even if his successor was J. D. Vance, we're inactive 8 years old. In the meantime, St Peter's successor was elected, who, given the average life expectancy of the popes, will be with us for 20 years. Choosing the Pope at this point due to the current political situation would be a very dramatic mistake to choose a candidate for specified a long time on this basis.
Do you think that Leon XIV's choice of name should be viewed as a declaration? What could it mean?
Definitely, I think it's a declaration. I wonder and have not yet answered this question, what the fresh Pope was trying to say to us. Leon XIII's days were comparatively peaceful. It was the end of the 19th century, when, in Europe, possibly beyond the beginning of the Balkan wars, small was happening in terms of armed conflicts. The church could have arranged any of its own matters. And now, what did the present Pope see in Leon XIII? That's what we're gonna find out. On the 1 hand [Leon XIII] opposed both capitalism and socialism. He returned to the conventional teaching of the Church. Today, however, I am afraid, his pontificate could be interpreted more in a socialist spirit. This could be 1 aspect.
On the another hand, he besides tried to reconstruct the conventional teaching of the Church, for example in the writings of Saint Thomas. However, what precisely was Leon XIV referring to, what outline of the pontificate of his last namesake speaks to the current Pope – that is not yet to be said.
A popular view of Leon XIII differs from the actual face of his pontificate. If we read encyclicals – Aeterni Patris, Satis cognitum, Quod apostolici muneris, Immortale Dei – It can be said that Leon XIII is without question the pope of orthodoxy. However, it was besides adhered to by a liberal patch – as the 1 who tried to reconcile the Church with democracy. Admittedly, the establishment of Christian democracy by Leon XIII in the encyclical Graves de communi It does not affect affirming democracy as such. It's just a description the Pope uses. So there is ambiguity in his judgment.
Yes, but the top uncertainty is this: if even 2 people read the same biography of the character, they can draw attention to completely different details. For example, I would be tempted to look at now how Pope Leon XIII arranged relations with the states. At the beginning of the pontificate, he tried to make a deal with the Russians. I'd be tempted to look for that perspective. However, I do not think that the American clergy at all are wondering what relations Pope Leon XIII had with Russia or with Poles. His position will be an American perspective.
I think there's 1 item that should give us any hope. It is the fact that the present Holy Father has reached back 100 years. He did not choose an easy model – John Paul III, Francis II, he did not choose Benedict XVII, nor did he choose – like Francis – any name that was not in Papacy past before. Instead, he chose a name that allows him to mention to the past. This allows us to hope that he thinks about the Church deeper.
He was talking. Philip Adamus
