Auburn, Al. (Special to Informed Comment; Feature) – It’s not surprising that Pope Leo XIV took the name Leo in honor of Pope Leo XIII (1878-1903). Why so? In 1891, Leo XIII wrote the encyclical, Rerum Novarum, that stated Capital and Labor must cooperate and there should be a just wage for workers. Leo also affirmed the rights of the poor, arguing for the obligations of the more fortunate toward them, and for the rights of workers to unionize. Leo wrote these words during a period of industrialization. In retrospect, Rerum Novarum was over a hundred years before its time, and it caught the eyes of Leo XIV.
When still a Cardinal, Leo questioned President Trump’s immigration platform in February 2023. Hence, Vice President J.P. Vance misinterpreted Christian doctrine to support mass deportation efforts. No wonder that Laura Loomer, an activist close to Pres. Trump, said that Leo is anti-MAGA, anti-Trump, and a total Marxist in favor of pro-open Borders. Steve Bannon told BBC that Leo’s choice for the Pope was “kind of jaw-dropping.” Bannon felt that the new Pope was an outspoken voice for immigrants.
Leo started as a global diplomat with influence that will reach far beyond the 1.4 billion Roman Catholics. In the early days of his pontificate, he stated that there should be an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and called for humanitarian aid to be provided to the “exhausted civilian population” and for all hostages to be freed. Similarly, Leo carries in his heart the sufferings of the beloved Ukrainian people, asking for “genuine, just, and lasting peace,’ ASAP. On May 5, 2025, Putin congratulated Leo stating that “I am confident that the constructive dialogue and cooperation established between Russia and the Vatican will continue to develop on the basis of the Christian values that unite us.” Surprisingly, on May 16, Leo remarked that he was willing to mediate a ceasefire between Russia and the Ukraine. Leo also asked for a ceasefire between India and Pakistan, expressing hope” for a lasting agreement.”
The Vatican Dicastery for Communications announced on May 13, 2025, that Leo will be on social media through the official papal accounts on X (formerly known as Twitter) and Instagram. Leo inherited the “@ Pontifex account on X” managed by Pope Benedict XVI and Pope Francis. The account communicates in English, Arabic, French, German, Italian, Latin, Polish, Portuguese, and Spanish, with a following of 52 million users.
For ten years, Pope Francis had a rough time dealing with the balance sheet of the Vatican, according to The Wall Street Journal, “The Vatican Financial Mess Pope Francis Couldn’t Fix,” by Drew Hinshaw, Joe Parkinson, and Stay Meichtry, May 6, 2025. The pension fund came to two billion euros in liabilities it could not fund. The Vatican relied on sales of museum tickets to fund the Papal Swiss Guard, its network of embassies, and its civil service. The city-state serves seven million visitors a year and people come worldwide without collecting taxes. Hence, Pope Francis begged the faithful for more money. A professional auditor was shocked that nuns kept “account ledgers in pencil and paper.”
In 2023, a cardinal was convicted of fraud and embezzlement for a 400-million-dollar real estate investment. Countries with Cardinals like the US and Germany had big donor bases. There was a culture of financial malpractice with the “dwindling confidence in the Curia’s anti-money-laundering practices.” Leo must now figure out how to get the Vatican to become solvent. Cardinals like Timothy Michael Dolan, Archbishop of New York City and other dioceses can help Leo deal with this problem. This Vatican conundrum by the cardinals in the conclave must have played a significant role in having Leo as the first American Pope.
The expectations of Pope Leo XIV (Leo) include the East Asian agreement in 2018 over the appointment of bishops with China, peace talks with Myanmar, and the renewal of full relations with Vietnam. Leo follows his own path with both North and South Vietnam under communism. Simon Ho Ana Hien (a senior leader from the Archdiocese of Hue) calls Leo the bridge builder, between the Vatican and the communist government. Moreover, he would like to see Leo visit Vietnam ASAP.
Pope Leo XIV. Public Domain. Via Wikimedia Commons.
If the Vatican and Vietnam normalized their relationship, Hanoi would likely accept such a move on the diplomatic front, in part because South Vietnam was annexed back in 1975. The Vatican has the ability to negotiate with Hanoi over its choice of bishops for Vietnam. Beijing has been accused of breaching a 2018 agreement for the joint appointment of bishops through its official church. This includes the appointment of two bishops by the Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association (CCPA) that could not be ratified by the Vatican since this decision was made following the death of Pope Francis on April 23, 2025.
Recently, associate China director at Human Rights Watch (HRW), Maya Wang, exhorted Leo to review the agreement of 2018, ask Beijing to end the incarceration of Catholics, and end the persecution of underground clergy, churches, and parishioners. HRW also urged Leo to press the Chinese to release imprisoned Catholic clergy some of whom disappeared or were subjected to house arrest. Wang pointed out that hundreds of church buildings have been destroyed, crosses were removed, bibles confiscated, and underground churches have been frequently raided by the Chinese government.
Human rights activist, Charles Santiago from ASEAN (the 11 Southeast countries that promote peace, stability, economic, and cultural development) and Parliamentarian for Human Rights said Leo should look at Myanmar the third deadliest conflict in the world behind Israel and Palestinians and the Ukraine, alongside Russia, would help since Beijing caused the Myanmar military in 2021 to lose a civilian war. By calling China, Leo could bring about a responsible relationship and a genuine peace in Myanmar. This would definitely be an exceedingly difficult undertaking for Leo to make. No wonder Leo has recently asked the Roman Catholic faithful to pray for the new Pope. He certainly needs it mightily.
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