Pope Leo XIV shapes priorities of his pontificate — Buenos Aires Times
At the Vatican, Pope Leo XIV is gradually shaping his own style of leading the Catholic Church, focusing on wars, migration, socially vulnerable groups and the impact of artificial intelligence. This is reported by the Buenos Aires Times in an article about the pontiff, who was elected head of 1.4 billion Catholics on May 8, 2025.
Before his election, Leo XIV, born Robert Francis Prevost in Chicago, spent more than two decades as a missionary in Peru and had experience working at the Vatican and in the Roman Curia. In 2023, Pope Francis made him a cardinal. At the time, Prevost headed the Dicastery for Bishops, which advises the pontiff on appointments.
Social challenges
In speeches this year, Leo XIV condemned corruption before African leaders and also called on Europe to welcome, protect and integrate migrants. He also defended himself against personal attacks by US President Donald Trump.
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Leo XIV's first encyclical, released in May, was devoted to a call to use artificial intelligence for the benefit of human dignity. Véronique Lecaros, author of the book “Leo XIV, Portrait of a Peruvian Pope,” told AFP that the pontiff is addressing the problems of the modern era, including those related to technology.
International issues
In the international arena, Leo XIV continued Francis's course of promoting peace in ongoing conflicts. He offered the Holy See's mediation between Moscow and Kyiv, while speaking more harshly about the Russian Federation's invasion of Ukraine, a state aggressor.
Researcher Marten Dumont of Sorbonne University noted that Leo XIV initially appeared restrained but later showed his character more clearly. The Pope, who turned 71 this month, is preparing for a visit to France on September 25–28. He holds American and Peruvian citizenship and said in a July interview with NBC that he considers himself a pope who simply happens to be American.
