The Conclave Chronicles: A New Era for the Catholic Church

By Kerryann White

And the new Pope is… an American! I can imagine that is not exactly the headline that many people expected to see anytime soon. Indeed, the Catholic Church welcomes the first ever Pope from the United States following the Vatican’s age-old conclave wrapping up with a puff of white smoke, floods of tears from the crowd, and hundreds of thousands of ‘Oddschecker’ bets placed. Quite the spectacle to witness.  The election of a new Pope marks the beginning of a new era, a historic shift for Catholicism and its image around the globe; a journey that is absolutely worth watching unfold. 

A Farewell to Francis 

Mourners light candles in front of a portrait of Pope Francis in New Delhi, India on Monday following the news of his death. Photograph: AFP/Getty Images

The need for a new Pope was the result of the unfortunate passing of Pope Francis, whose sovereignty of the Vatican City lasted from 2013 until his recent death. For a generation of Catholics, particularly the youth, he acted as a sort of spiritual grandfather – often described as a Pope who may have been “old in years but young at heart.”  With his fierce stance on global economic disparity, environmental degradation, migration and inequalities, and even pandemic vaccinations, he single-handedly shifted the Church’s focus to one that does not shy away from political commentary. 

Arguably, one of his most remembered remarks lies within his statement in 2013, expressing the view “If someone is gay and is searching for the Lord and has good will, then who am I to judge him?” Whilst not every initiative put forth by Pope Francis hit the mark, by providing such a relatable and inclusive approach he managed to bridge the gap between Catholicism and the modern world, allowing young people to finally feel seen and reassured in a church that can often be perceived as distant and unmoving. 

As the Church is now forced to say goodbye, it does so with an overwhelming gratitude for a papacy that brought mercy, humanity and a fearless focus on the vulnerable and marginalised.

The Leo XIV Era: What Does the Future Hold?

While it is an exciting time for the world as we watch the transition from Pope Francis to Pope Leo, many questions remain about the path ahead. Will he honour this tolerant and inclusive version of Catholicism that follows the legacy left by Pope Francis? Will he reject this and revert back to the traditional (and unsettling) ways of the old Church? Will he appease the far-right agenda pushed by America’s President Trump and Vice President JD Vance? The question remains to be seen.

Yet, for those of us unwilling to accept the overly-conservative and unchangeable path, hope remains. In the past, Pope Leo has spoken out and shared social media articles that criticised JD Vance’s stance on immigration and comments about Francis amidst the tensions between the late Pope and Trump’s administration. Steve Bannon, one of Trump’s most prominent Catholic allies, went as far as to say Leo is the “worst pick for Maga Catholics”. 

Though he is expected to be less confrontational than Francis and has said little about other major social issues such as the inclusion of LGBTQ+ Catholics and women’s role in the Church, his opening remarks offer a level of comfort for the road ahead. He said, “We have to be a church that works together to build bridges and keep our arms open”, leading us to believe that he will follow the late Pope in many respects.   

Of course, as with any papal leadership, Pope Leo will inherit one of the Church’s gravest wounds: a long shadow of clerical sexual abuse. Under Francis, some Catholics expressed concerns at the lack of concrete action taken and many will now be watching Leo closely in his efforts to win the trust of the victims and all of those affected by these harrowing cases of abuse. 

The Gospel According to Me 

Ultimately, it seems a bit premature to pass serious judgement, after all, he has barely had time to unpack his bags. The early days of papacy tend to be more symbolic than substantive with the vast number of greetings and gestures, but so far, Leo’s tone has leaned more toward a future of unity than division. For now, the best response to everything we know so far is to be optimistic, not stupidly, but with a hopeful attitude on how Pope Leo could shape the Church to listen and adapt with compassion in an ever-changing world. 

Sources

Murru, Maria Grazia and Hui, Sylvia. “Gamblers Bet Millions on Who Will Be the Next Pope”, The Independent, May 03 2025. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/conclave-betting-odds-cardinal-pope-b2747103.html

Yoder, Katie. “’The Young Pope’: Pope Fracis’ Legacy with Young People.” Our Sunday Visitor, April 27 2025. https://www.oursundayvisitor.com/the-young-pope-pope-francis-legacy-with-young-people/#:~:text=Francis’%20openness%20to%20listening%20to,and%20including%20young%20people

Chacko, Sofia Babu. “Remembering Pope Francis Through His Words: A Champion of Poor and Tolerance”, NewsX, April 21 2025. https://www.newsx.com/world/remembering-pope-francis-through-his-words-a-champion-of-poor-and-tolerance/#

Adams, Liam. “How Pope Leo XIV May Lead Church and Navigate an Increasingly Catholic Right in the US”, USA Today News, 2025. https://eu.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2025/05/11/pope-leo-xiv-conservative-divide-catholic-church-us/83523419007/

Sherwood, Harriet. “Where Does Pope Leo XIV Stand on Key Issues like Sexual Abuse, Climate and Poverty?” The Guardian, May 10, 2025. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/may/10/where-does-pope-leo-xiv-stand-on-key-issues-like-sexual-abuse-climate-and-poverty