Habemus Papam!

I’ll admit, I’m shocked. But I think just about everyone else is too. I never thought I’d see an American pope. Because of that, I really discounted Robert Prevost’s chances of becoming pope. However, if any American was going to be elected in this conclave, it was clear it would be him. Chicago is full of buzz about him, of course, wondering if Malört will now be used for communion.

He really does check a lot of the boxes of what the cardinals would look for: pastoral experience, Vatican experience, experience in the Global South through his years of work in Peru, known to cardinals around the world through his work with bishop nominations, a simple man from the Augustinian order, a master of many languages including Italian, Spanish, and English, among others, a proven manager who may be able to help the church’s financial and structural challenges, a supporter of the direction of Francis’s structural reforms through the synodal process, and generally in continuity with Francis while having potential for bridge-building to some who have opposed him.

Had he not been American, he would have been a top-tier candidate in my book, but I guess being the “least American of the Americans” was enough for the cardinals, and I didn’t expect it.

The Trump Factor

To me, this seems like a direct response to Trump. Leo XIV has a history of vocally opposing the Trump administration’s actions on immigration, knows the US context as well as the Latin American context, and has language skills to communicate to the US as well as leaders around the world.

To me, his selection suggests Trump and global conditions for migrants loomed large in the minds of the cardinals.

Francis, Part 2

I do think Leo XIV looks like he will largely continue Francis’s direction. While he’s not trying to be Francis, seen in his return to more traditional robes for his appearance rather than Francis’s simplified look, he is likely to pursue similar priorities to Francis, from his background and his words so far. It looks like he will prioritize concerns for migrants, those in poverty, and those in war, promoting global peacemaking. He has supported Francis’s synodal reforms to church structure and referred to the church as “synodal” in his opening speech. The synodal process begun by Francis is broadening participation in decision-making throughout the Catholic Church and holds a lot of promise for greater engagement and slow progress towards needed changes in the church. Like Francis, I doubt Leo will be making any dramatic or sudden changes to hot-button topics like women’s ordination or the church’s teachings on marriage and sexuality.

Conclusion

Leo XIV brings management and communication skills the Catholic Church needs for this moment, global familiarity, pastoral sensibility, and a practiced voice for political advocacy. He knows the inner workings of the Vatican and seems to have experience and skills that offer promise in his ability to produce change. From what we know of him, I think he will move in positive directions across a variety of issues, but in a measured and effective way. Workers, migrants, and peacemaking seem likely to be at the forefront of papal focus, as they should be.

Honestly, I think he may be one of the best possible outcomes. Other candidates were either too out of the mainstream to get elected (Zuppi, Hollerich), had concerns around management skill (Tagle, Turkson, Ambongo Besungu), potentially wouldn’t have the interpersonal skills to make change happen (Grech), didn’t have grounding in direct pastoral experience (Parolin), or would potentially be taking the church backwards and away from needed changes (Erdo, Ranjith, Pizzaballa, even Parolin maybe). I do think Anders Arborelius would have been good, but Prevost potentially has more potential for global appeal and connection. Pablo Virgilio David from the Philippines would have been good and an exciting first, but him even being a possibility was a late and sudden development and Prevost seems to have much more experience with the workings of the Vatican and global connections, potentially setting him up better for accomplishing change.

One major question lingers around his handling of abuse cases in his diocese and religious order during his years of leadership. I don’t know much of the history here, but I’m sure there will be significant coverage in this area over the days to come. I hope that further scrutiny doesn’t reveal significant errors on his part, and that wherever that leads, he is able to lead effectively in the church’s continually needed transformation in that area.

Frances Perkins, Leo XIII, Rerum Novarum, and the Rights and Dignity of Workers

I regularly highlight historical heroes, often in the week of their birth or death. Tuesday is the anniversary of the death of Frances Perkins.

Frances Perkins (10 April 1880-14 May 1965) was a workers' rights advocate, US Secretary of Labor, and the first female US Cabinet member. She grew up in Worcester, Massachusetts, studied chemistry and physics at Mt. Holyoke College, and became involved with the women's suffrage and progressive political movements of the early 20th century. She was assigned to tour a factory for a course and observe working conditions, which was a significant influence. She taught chemistry in Illinois, volunteered with Jane Addams's Hull House, and became part of the Episcopal Church. She worked as a social worker in Philadelphia, and earned a master's degree in economics and sociology at Columbia in New York. She then became the New York leader of the National Consumers League and the Executive Secretary for the New York Committee on Safety and was involved in lobbying for better working conditions. She held various positions in New York government, including as Industrial Commissioner for Governor Franklin Roosevelt. When Roosevelt became President, Perkins became the first female member of cabinet, as Secretary of Labor. She served for 12 years and assisted in writing New Deal legislation, including the Social Security Act, unemployment insurance, the federal minimum wage, and additional child labor laws.

Frances seems especially appropriate to highlight this week as Pope Leo XIV chose the name Leo, likely in reference to Leo XIII.

Leo XIII was Pope from 1878 to 1903 in the midst of the great shifts of the Industrial Revolution. Official Roman Catholic Church teaching on economic and labor issues had been sporadic and thin through the many changes that happened as modernity came to Europe, but in this key period, Leo XIII wrote Rerum Novarum, a key church document outlining the importance of the rights and dignity of workers and adding the church’s voice solidly on the side of social and economic justice in the industrialized world and promoted the role of unions. He laid the foundations for Catholic social teaching in the 20th century, and made it normal for Catholic leaders to speak out on these issues, giving precedent for other papal writings in the years since. He did great diplomatic, stabilizing, and modernizing work in that era of the church, and Leo XIV’s name selection gives reason for optimism about the direction he will take.