Leo XIV is the right Pope at the right time

On the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, the future of the Catholic Church shown: Robert Francis Prevost, the new Pope Leo XIV was his predecessor, Francis died on Easter Mondaya sensation (for the first time a Latin American, for the first time a Jesuit, a « Francis » for the first time), this is no less as the first American.

If the Pope voters were the meaning of opening in spring 2013, they obviously wished for more peace and consolidation in spring 2025. One that repairs the « Schiffin Petri », moderately and modernized in the greatest possible consensus – and does not even ensure high waves on the stormy lake anyway, as the Francis sometimes did. At the beginning of his pontificate, he had a century chance to change the church. Ultimately, he left her and his successor some beginnings. And now?

Leo XIV is in a sharp contrast to US President Donald Trump: Polarizations and nationalisms are alien to him

His engaging appearance, his extremely strong, cleverly chosen first words, his pope name-all of this is already part of Leo XIV’s program and this program is convincing. Much indicates that he is exactly the right pope for these tense times. As a man in the middle who saw both the curia and the world, especially Peru. Not least as a American who is in a sharp contrast to US President Donald Trump stands because polarizations and nationalisms are foreign to him. For a long time, his urgent appeal for peace and hoping to be comforting, comforting words will not gain evil.

Where exactly Leo XIV will lead the church and what role he will play on an international stage is still uncertain. As uncertain as the times when his choice falls. One thing is clear: they are times when the church is urgent need a reconciler. Just a Pontifex, a bridge builder.

The new Pope can be trusted that he can become a successful bridge builder

Prevost can be trusted that he can become a successful bridge builder. As Leo XIV. He could become a bridge builder between the traditionalist and the progressive camp, between the various countries and cultures as well as possibly a pioneer of a reform bank; Politically, he could act as an intermediary in the various current crises and wars. These two possible priorities of his pontificate do not necessarily require a charismatic pope that could certainly become prevost. They demand for a decision -making Pope.

Leo XIV will also have to be measured by his predecessor Franziskus, whom he mentally and respectfully mentioned in his first greetings and, to whom he, he conveyed this impression credibly, in a certain way. This alone testifies to his choice of names: Leo XIII, who was a Pope until 1903, wrote the church’s first social cyclical and went down in history as a « workers’ pope ».

His predecessor Francis had always succeeded in setting topics and drawing the public’s attention to the good news – Leo XIV is given this opportunity. People want to and will listen to him. It is up to him if it stays that way. Because even if a lot of things have to be speculation shortly after his choice, one thing is already certain: the applause with which Leo XIV was received by thousands on St. Peter’s Square was a snapshot.