(Photo by Nicole Winfield of AP News)
Since Thursday, May 8th, Cardinal Robert Prevost, or Pope Leo XIV, has been elected to become the new pope. He is the first American Pope, and while untraditional, is continuing a line of non-Italian popes. Ms. Emily Neinast is curious about the new pope. She states that she is “interested to see how Pope Leo XIV’s leadership either continues in the footsteps of Francis’ or if he reverts to more traditional doctrinal teaching.”
Many people were saddened by the death of Pope Francis, however, many people who liked his views on the church are excited about the new pope, who shares many of the same views. Neinast, someone who liked Francis, stated that “I’ve spent a lot of time reading about him over the last week, and I have appreciated a lot of what I have learned.” Kaitlin W. ’27, a catholic, believes that there needs to be a “balancing act between the traditional values and adapting to what our world needs today.” However, she is hopeful that Leo XIV will provide the balance that she believes the church needs.
However, with all of the hopeful thoughts, some members of the far right are not pleased with him. Pope Leo XIV has criticized Trump and Vance’s administration on the social media app X, criticizing their views on immigration. A repost he made in April from a Catholic writer shared commentary on Trump’s meeting with Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele. He called the deportation of a United States citizen, Kilmar Abrego Garcia, to El Salvador “Illicit.” In the post, he said, “Do you not see the suffering? Is your conscience not disturbed? How can you stay quiet?”
Overall, many people are hopeful of the new Pope, although some conservatives are unhappy with how the church might change during the new Pope’s term.