A New Direction Without Reversing Course
The newly elected pope may offer new interpretations of some of Pope Francis’ more progressive policies without entirely repealing them, according to Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich, the liberal-minded Archbishop of Luxembourg. Speaking to a small group of journalists, including POLITICO, at Nuova Chiesa church in Rome, Hollerich suggested that revisiting certain decisions—such as the controversial allowance for blessings of individuals in same-sex unions—could help bridge divisions within the Church.
Among those decisions, some traditionalists are already signaling cautious optimism, hopeful that Pope Leo XIV, formerly Cardinal Prevost, will adopt a more measured and conciliatory tone than his predecessor. Edward Feser, a Catholic philosophy professor at Pasadena City College, noted on social media that while Prevost’s theology leans progressive, he appears to be a more “reasonable man” who might reevaluate some of Francis’ more contentious moves. One notable gesture underscoring this shift: Prevost has already met with Cardinal Raymond Burke, a staunch critic of Francis and a fierce defender of the traditional Latin Mass, which the late pope sought to limit.
Prevost’s early outreach to conservative figures like Burke has sparked concern among more centrist Church leaders. One moderate, speaking to POLITICO, warned that traditionalist forces suppressed under Francis might regain influence under the new pontiff.
Symbol and Substance: Reactions from America’s Right Wing
Despite these gestures toward the right, Pope Leo XIV is unlikely to win favor from the far reaches of America’s MAGA world, where critics have already branded him as a leftist ideologue. His previous comments in support of compassionate migration policies have fueled such accusations.
Shortly after his election, American far-right activist and Trump ally Laura Loomer denounced the new pope in a fiery social media post, labeling him a “woke Marxist” and claiming he is “anti-Trump, anti-MAGA, pro-open borders.” Although Loomer is not Catholic herself—she is Jewish—her tirade illustrates the broader symbolic weight of the papacy among both believers and nonbelievers in U.S. conservative circles.
Steve Bannon, a prominent Catholic nationalist and former strategist for Donald Trump, declared Pope Leo XIV’s election as a direct snub to MAGA values. Calling him “the worst choice for MAGA Catholics,” Bannon described the conclave vote as “an anti-Trump vote by the globalists of the Curia.”
But Hollerich dismissed that narrative. “We didn’t elect an anti-Trump,” he said. “We elected a disciple of Jesus.” Still, he acknowledged the political ripple effects of the moment. “The fact is that he is an American citizen—so there is also this consequence.”
While it’s too early to say how Pope Leo XIV will shape the future of the Catholic Church, it’s clear that his election is stirring debate across ideological lines—inside and outside the Vatican.
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