Robert Francis Prevost, who was born in Chicago and lived for two decades in Peru, was elected the 267th pope of the Roman Catholic Church. His father was a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II and his mother worked as a librarian. He took the name Pope Leo XIV, becoming the first pope from the United States.
Dugan McGinley, a professor of religion in the School of Arts and Sciences whose areas of focus include contemporary Catholicism, talked to Rutgers Today about the selection of the new pope and the significance of his American roots.
What is the significance of the selection of the first American pope? Are you surprised by this? Why do you think they chose someone from America?
I am indeed surprised. Last week, I said the odds were not favorable toward the election of an American because of the demographics among the cardinals and because the United States already has outsize influence in the world. That being said, Robert Prevost (now Pope Leo XIV) was also being called the "least American of the Americans." This might help us understand what the cardinals were thinking. In his position as Prefect for the Dicastery of Bishops, he was known by most of the cardinals and he traveled widely to meet with them. Before that, he spent much of his ministry in Peru where he served in both pastoral and administrative roles. He also traveled widely as head of the Augustinian order. So, he may have some of the qualities the cardinals admire about Americans without the fixation on uniquely American concerns and arguments.
How did they come to a consensus so quickly?
The majority of the cardinals were appointed by Pope Francis and were likely generally supportive of his agenda. Since Prevost had worked so closely with Francis, especially in the selection of bishops, they likely perceived him as someone who wouldn't shake things up too much. He was certainly a known quantity. By all accounts, he is a very measured and soft-spoken man, with a diplomatic and evenhanded flair, so they probably thought he would be a safe choice moving forward, and not perceived as a radical departure. He's also broadly from "the Americas," just like Francis, since he spent so much time in Peru. It seems they weren't ready to choose another European.
What is the significance of the name the pope has chosen?
I'm very excited by the name Leo because the last Leo we had (Leo XIII, pope from 1878 to 1903) is considered one of the main figures in the modern Catholic social justice movement. His encyclical Rerum Novarum (1891) is sort of the founding document in that regard. It is concerned with the rights of workers and asserts the right to private property while it also condemns laissez-faire capitalism. Clearly, this new pope wants to be associated with that legacy of social justice.
I think it's also interesting to remember this pope's formation and self-understanding as an Augustinian. He even quoted St. Augustine in his speech this afternoon, using his words to emphasize the importance of unity and moving forward together. St. Augustine is an important figure for many Christians, not just Catholics. He was responsible for many doctrines Christians now take for granted and his autobiography is a beloved classic. His life is a model of Christian dedication and humility, and those qualities must have played a large role in Prevost's formation.
Pope Francis was seen as a man of the people. Do you think the new pope will continue his legacy or return to a more traditional approach? What priorities do you think he will focus on?
I think he will mostly carry on Pope Francis's legacy, though it remains to be seen if he has the same charisma. He participated in the recent Synod on Synodality, which was an important project for Francis. Synods are gatherings of church leaders to decide or advise on matters touching the life of the church. They can range in size from local to global. Though we would typically think of the more global synods being comprised of bishops and priests, Pope Francis was working on opening the concept to include lay people, both men and women. This was the case in the most recent gathering, which was held in Rome over the past three years. Synodality as a concept is all about opening up dialogue in the church, something Pope Francis greatly valued, but it was also viewed with suspicion by self-styled "traditionalists" in the church.
I suspect he will be a leader who listens to the various concerns of his flock and moves accordingly. Like Francis, he will probably not be focused on doctrinal changes but rather more pastoral concerns. His biggest challenge will be finding a way to instantiate a greater sense of synodality without alienating the more conservative bishops of the church. He seems well-positioned to make some moves in that direction in that he seems soft-spoken yet firm. But at the end of the day, we must remember that popes can surprise us!
What is next in the process?
Well, he pretty much dives in right away. There will be some more ceremony and his first liturgies as pope, but beyond that, he will have to hit the ground running - in his own way, of course.
