Migrant, Ukraine, homosexuality … What Leon XIV said before being Pope

“May peace be with you all. At 7:13 p.m., Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost became Léon XIV, the 267th pope of the Catholic Church. First American pontiff in history, this 69 -year -old Augustine, former missionary in Peru and prefect of the Dicastery for the bishops, embodies a profile that is both pastoral and Roman.

A man of dialogue and discretion, he expressed himself little publicly in the past. However, his commitment to synodality, collegiality and the place of the poor and migrants in the church suggest a pontificate in the continuity of the reforms initiated by François.

Synod

It is undoubtedly on this theme that Robert Francis Prevost was the most talkative and the most enthusiastic. The American cardinal has established himself as an ardent defender of this new way of considering the government of the Church. In 2023, he declared that synodality represented an “possible antidote to polarization in the church”. During the consistory of September 30 of the same year, he delivered his own definition of the mission of the church:

“Being a synodal church that knows how to listen to everyone is the way not only to live the faith personally, but also to grow in a real Christian fraternity. If it is still too early to measure how the future Pope Leo XIV will govern the Church, his open personality, his capacity for synthesis and his sense of dialogue suggest that he will work in favor of collegiality.

Diplomacy

His first appearance at the Balcony of the Saint-Pierre Basilica as a sovereign pontiff immediately set the tone: Leon XIV chose symbolic words and resolutely turned towards the world. In a troubled geopolitical context-War in Ukraine, conflicts in the Middle East, increasing trade tensions-he posed as a man of peace, calling for “building bridges through dialogue”. This choice of the word dialogue, repeated with insistent, is part of the continuity of its missionary commitment and its role in the Roman Curia, as a prefect of the Dicastery for the bishops.

He also addressed to the faithful in Spanish, a nod assumed to his career in Latin America, especially in Peru, where he worked for several decades as a missionary and then bishop. But these words do not necessarily be part of previous declarations. Discreet man, Cardinal PREVOST has never taken a public position on latent diplomatic subjects, notably the war in Ukraine, on which he remained silent before his election. A reserve which is no doubt explained by the fact that he was not a leading character of the church, until September 30, 2023, when he was created Cardinal by François.

The place of women in the church

During the synod on synodality in October 2023, Cardinal Prevost declared that “Corricizing Women”, that is to say ordering them to clerical roles, would not “solve” the problems of the Church and “would even create new ones”. Despite his opposition to the ordination of women, he supported an increased participation of women in the decision -making of the Church.

In 2022, he chaired a significant reform under the Pontificate of François, which allowed three women to join the group responsible for selecting episcopal appointments. This initiative aimed to further integrate women into the church decision spheres.

Homosexuality

Robert Francis Prevost’s public positions on the issue of homosexuality in the Church are rare. However, the American daily New York Times reports that in 2012, a few months before the designation of François as Pope, Mgr Prévost had displayed his concern in the face of “a certain complacency” on the part of Western media with regard to practices and convictions deemed incompatible with evangelical education. He notably pointed out the “homosexual lifestyle” and the “alternative families made up of same -sex partners and their adopted children”.

Migrants

In February 2025, in response to statements by the American vice-president J.-D. Vance, who called for a hierarchy of Christian love based on the country of origin, Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost had strongly reacted on the social network X: “J.-D. Vance is wrong: Jesus does not ask us to prioritize our love for others. »»

Always active on the platform of Elon Musk, the one who was going to become Léon XIV had also shared, a few weeks later, a message from the Catholic writer Rocco Palmo. The latter denounced the attitude of American president Donald Trump and his Salvadoral counterpart Nayib Bukele, following the expulsion of a undocumented migrant. The future pope took up these incisive words on his own: “Do you not see suffering?” Isn’t your conscience troubled? How can you remain silent? »»

Throughout François’ pontificate, Robert Francis Prevost had shown himself in solidarity with the Pope’s gestures in favor of migrants, especially those crossing the Mediterranean or fleeing conflicts. As early as 2014, he had already affirmed a clear vision of pastoral commitment by declaring: “The bishop is not supposed to be a small prince seated in his kingdom. »»