Climate, gay, priest women, migrants and poor: all the thoughts of Pope Leo XIV in 5 points (and the differences with Francesco)

Up to the election to the papal throne, ideas and The thought of the cardinal Robert Francis Prevost On the themes related to migration they appeared in line with those of Pope Francis. And last February his positions appeared too evident, also because In open controversy with the American president Donald Trump and his deputy JD Vance.

Migrants: refugees in Salvador and the controversy with the White House

The first episode dates back to February 3 when I Vance, Speaking of the deportations of migrants from the United States to Salvador states: « The state, just like a family father, has a priority duty to take care of its citizens before turning attention to foreigners ».

In a post published on X Prevost he shares the article of a Catholic magazine with an eloquent title – «JD Vance is wrong: Jesus does not ask us to classify our love for others» – Where the selective approach of the Trump administration towards immigrants and the words of the vice -president who, in justifying the deportations of illegal immigrants, had implicitly criticized, he had mentioned the priority in giving security and love to loved ones and then to others.

Just a week after Pope Francis writes to the US episcopal conference precisely on deportations: «An authentic state of law occurs in the dignified treatment that all people deserve, especially the poorest and most marginalized». And he adds: « A policy that regulates ordered and legal migration must be favored ». Two days pass, Vance returns to the subject and justifies deportations with the Christian concept of « Ordo Amoris ».

On X Prevost, he placed another article. Also in this case it is the title that marks the line: «The letter of Pope Francis, theOrdo Amoris by JD Vance and what The Gospel asks all of us on immigration». The text refers to the contents of Bergoglio’s letter sent to the US bishops.

The poor: « Someone must speak for them »

From Chicago to Chulucanas. From one of the ten most influential cities in the world to one of the poorest regions of Peru, Robert Francis Prevost’s choice says a lot about the premises of a pontificate still to be written. On adhesion to choice to be on the side of the last of the earth. Peoples who have immediately exploited the « farms » system before, and after the agricultural reform of ’96 abandoned by the government.

Indeed, due to the foreign debt of Peru and the unsustainable weight of multilateral financial instruments (FMI, BM and BID) has undergone cuts that have generated terrible repercussions such as the increase in child mortality and the spread of epidemics such as cholera. Prevost was general of the Augustinians when it could have chosen easier destinations. Instead he chose to stay there.

And in this there is all the continuity with the war of Pope Francis to speculative finance and his battle for the elimination of the debt of the countries of the South of the world, Flow to the UN but fought alone. “This economy kills. The money must serve not to govern, « Pope Francis wrote in the evangelii Gaudium. And he had often spoken of the « money of the devil » as a modern idol.

So Prevost: «We need someone who can speak for the poor, the marginalized, the displaced people on the world scene. Even if people nod politely and go on we still need to have that voice ». The same choice of the name, as a successor as Leo XIII, the Pope of the Rerum Novarum, who founded the social doctrine of the Churchreports Prevost in the wake of the work carried out by Pope Francis. It should therefore be believed that this global challenge renews with more energy. And if there will be The interview with Donald Trumphoped for by the US President, it is to be believed that it will be, together with peace, one of the first themes addressed.

Gay couples: « practice in contrast to the Gospel »

With regard to civil rights, the positions between Francesco and Leone XIV could be different, especially with regard to homosexuals. Pope Bergoglio marked his pontificate with Opening positions Then reiterated in an interview of May 2024 to the American broadcaster CBS: « The Gospel is for everyone, for all of us who are sinners. I am also a sinner.

And if the Church puts a customs to its door, it ceases to be the Church of Christ « without however avoiding to provide a clarification on the blessing of homosexual unions faced in the doctrinal document » Confirmation confidence « : »The blessing is for everyone: you can bless each person, but not the homosexual union. What I allowed it was not to bless the union because it goes against the law of the Church ».

Lately Prevost supported the « trusted plea » while showing himself strongly cautious about the total opening towards the LGBTQ+ community.
In the past Prevost had instead turned criticism that the Church granted the rights to the Gender and LGBQT world. As a bishop, in a speech in 2012 held in front of other bishops, he spoke of the « homosexual lifestyle » and the « alternative families made up of partners of the same sex and their adoptive children » criticizing the western media that show « sympathy for beliefs and practices that are in contrast with the Gospel».

On the occasion, it clarified that the expression « alternative families are incorrect because homosexual couples cannot be a family since The family was born from marriage And marriage exists only between a man and a woman ».

Female priesthood, no opening

« When women command things go, » Pope Francis said several times, confirming their opening position compared to Key roles to be entrusted to women also within the Holy See. An investigation by the monthly Vatican « Women Chiesa Mondo » highlighted how Francesco’s moves allowed the slow but constant advance of women in the Curia and in the Vatican.

With a data: between 2013 and 2023, the percentage of those working for the Holy See went from almost 19.2 percent to 23.4 percent, with recognized appreciation. « In the Vatican dicasteries, where there are now more women than in the past and where they hold higher positionsthe atmosphere has changed radically. Just a few women and the Curia is no longer that narrow clerical circle that unfortunately is so easily stigmatized, « said Cardinal JEan-Paul VescoArchbishop of Algiers. Francesco had instead said no to the opening of the priesthood to women and on this the new pontiff also shown himself in line.

During the Synod in 2023 Prevost said that « extending the priesthood to women does not necessarily solve a problem, but could create a new one ». And that women can already have « a great contribution on different levels to the life of the Church ». A declaration that has however shown opening on the possibility that women have decision -making roles. The choices of Leone XIV will be clearer when it will proceed with the appointments and find out if you intend to confirm the women who in recent years had obtained important positions. In his first greeting to the faithful, the new pontiff did not mention the family.

Climate change: « Between us and nature it serves reciprocity »

Attention to the environment and climate change marked the pontificate of Francesco: «Although not all catastrophes can be attributed to global climate change; However, it is verifiable that some human -induced climate change significantly increase the probability of most frequent and more intense extreme events « , He said highlighting how he is witnessing « an unusual acceleration of heatingwith such a speed that only one generation is enough – no centuries or millennia – to notice it.

The raising of sea level and the dissolution of glaciers can be easily perceived by a person in the arch of his life, and probably in a few years many populations will have to move their homes because of these events ». Bergoglio had also underlined that within the Catholic Church they circulate « contemptuous and unreasonable opinions, But the anthropic origin of climate change can no longer be questioned ».

Positions that Pope Leo XIV seems to share. In a seminar of last November Prevost said that « the domain on nature » should not be « tyrannical » hoping for « a relationship of reciprocity ». The Holy Father had also praised the ecological primacy of the Vatican by saying that the world must pass « from words to deeds » and warned by the « harmful » consequences of technological development, reaffirming the commitment of the Holy See for the protection of the environmentlisting examples such as the installation of solar panels and the transition to electric vehicles in the Vatican.