Pope Leo XIV

Follower and Leader

Popes are, well, successors of their predecessors. By definition. And in that sense, they are followers. The newly elected Pope Leo XIV’s immediate predecessor was, of course, Pope Francis, whose immediate predecessor was Pope Benedict XVI, who was preceded by John Paul II. All the way back to St Peter, the original Vicar of Christ. Followers following followers.

It should come as no surprise, then, that Pope Leo casts himself in continuity with Pope Francis, as Francis often did with Pope Benedict. Some people who think well of Francis’ pontificate see Pope Leo’s statements of continuity as a kind of vindication. “Pope Leo says positive things about Pope Francis! Pope Leo will continue the work of Pope Francis!” In their fights with their fellow Catholics, especially those hoping for the Pope Anti-Francis, some energetic defenders of Pope Francis insist they’ve “won” because Pope Leo XIV will build on the legacy of Francis.

On the other hand, some people highly critical of Francis see Pope Leo XIV’s expressions of continuity as an ominous sign of things to come. Perhaps a Pope Francis II. Which, interestingly enough, isn’t necessarily the same as Francis 2.0. “2.0” implies an improvement, not just more of the same. Perhaps Francis “without the bugs”. Moderate critics of Pope Francis might find a Francis 2.0 more tolerable than Francis 1.0 or, depending on what the “upgrade” includes, they might think Pope Leo is exactly what’s needed, not simply what must be tolerated.

In any case, for extreme critics a Francis II would be a disaster, so even the most pro forma indicators of continuity that Pope Leo signals these folks take as warnings of Really Bad Apocalyptic Stuff.

Both perspectives misread the continuity-and-difference principle often at work in papal history.

Now Pope Leo, as Cardinal Robert Prevost, worked for Francis, as the Prefect for the Dicastery for Bishops. What’s more, as someone appointed bishop and made cardinal by Francis, and as an obedient Augustinian, he of course would embrace his predecessor: he was the pope, after all! Certainly, Pope Leo is going to quote Francis, speak well of him, express sadness of Francis’ recent passing. What else would we expect?

As Jude 2:7 (look it up!) declares, “The one who states the obvious as if it were a subtle conclusion deserveth the reply, ‘Duh!’”

But that doesn’t imply what some folks—friends or critics of Francis’ pontificate— seem to think it does.

As Pope Francis, despite often drawing on his immediate predecessor’s words and stressing certain common themes, felt free to walk his own path in other respects, so we should expect Pope Leo XIV will lead in ways honoring Pope Francis (as well as other popes, such as John Paul II and Benedict XVI), while still charting his own course. Nor is this necessarily simply a matter of the proper response to changing circumstances. It can be a different judgment of priorities and approaches to even the same situations.

The story is told of how under Pope Pius XII priests were discouraged from smoking cigarettes in public. When John XXIII, a smoker, became pope, things changed. Asked about taking up the habit, a priest replied, “New pope, new rules.”

When it comes to the "paths of the Church”, to use Pope Paul VI’s expression, more than mere “rules” are at stake. Catholic teaching and practice can’t fundamentally change, because they come from Jesus Christ, not from the Pope. The Pope’s job is to re-present and to assist others to re-present that essential teaching, and to uphold the basic practice of the Catholic Faith in his time. While there’s some room for certain kinds of “innovation”, even in those areas wisdom and prudence are required.

As hard as this continuity-and-difference motif can be for certain Catholics who have prided themselves on giving a hearty “amen” to, or a thorough rhetorical blitzkrieg of, every papal sneeze from Pope Francis (or, for that matter, John Paul II and Benedict XVI before him), this “continuity and difference” is as it should be. Or at least as it is going to be, like it or not.

Popes are true leaders when they are good followers—not simply of their predecessors but especially of Jesus Christ, whose vicar or representative they are. That always requires a basic continuity but often requires secondary change to be more faithful to the truth to be continuously upheld.

We should pray for Pope Leo XIV and ask God to give him wisdom to discern well what intentional, missionary discipleship of Jesus looks like today. Likewise, we should pray he is able to lead us take up “the ever ancient, ever new” call.