He wears more festive, traditional clothing than his predecessor. And unlike Pope Francis, Pope Leo XIV once again resides in the Apostolic Palace above St. Peter’s Square. From time to time, he also goes to the Pope’s summer residence at Castell Gandolfo – something Francis never did.
In external matters, Robert Prévost – the cardinal whom the conclave elected as head of the Catholic Church on May 8, 2025 and who took the name Leo XIV – differs from his predecessor in several ways.
Yet when it comes to their programmatic, theological and ecclesiastical orientation, much remains uncertain. So far, there is no encyclopedia, no major doctrinal document from the pen of Leo, as Augsburg church historian Jörg Ernesti points out in a conversation with DW. As a result, it “remains open where the Pope’s religious trip is going.” For now, it appears that Leo is deliberately keeping his cards close to his chest.
Leo’s first words from the loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica on May 8, 2025, just hours after his election, were: “Peace be with you all!” No other word appears more frequently in that address than “peace.” Leo called for “a peace that is unarmed and disarmed, humble and sustained.” In doing so, he largely remained in line with his predecessor, who had repeatedly spoken out on the war in Ukraine and the conflict in Gaza.
Above all, US President Donald Trump’s militarized foreign policy gives special importance to the issue of peace – from the US intervention in Venezuela to threats against Cuba and Greenland and war with Iran.
Unprecedented attack on Pope Leo
Following the US-Israeli attacks on Iran – whose nuclear program has been a subject of international concern since the US unilaterally withdrew from the Iran nuclear deal in 2018 – an open confrontation broke out between arguably the two most prominent American citizens on the global stage: the Pope, known for his measured style, on the one hand, and a bumbling President, on the other.
During the Iran War, after Easter, Trump openly threatened to destroy Iran: “An entire civilization will die tonight,” he wrote on his social media platforms. When the Pope dismissed the warning as “truly unacceptable” and cautioned against “fantasies of omnipotence” that were becoming “more unpredictable and more aggressive”, Trump attacked the Pope personally. He called the Pope “politically very left” and “terrible” with regard to foreign policy. Trump is perhaps ignoring the importance of Venezuela and Cuba, as well as Lebanon, to the Catholic Church. All three countries stood in Catholic tradition.
Church historian Ernesti, who has written extensively on the papacy and individual popes, calls Trump’s attack on Leo unprecedented. He said, “Nobody has ever spoken so disrespectfully about the Pope. Not Hitler, not Mussolini, not Napoleon.” Ernesti called picking a fight with a moral authority like the Pope “completely foolish.” He said Leo responded with remarkable composure and calmly pointed out the responsibilities of his office. Later, speaking to reporters on the flight to Africa, Leo said he was “not afraid” of Trump or his administration.
The president’s attack on the Pope gave worldwide visibility to Leo’s critical comments – made in a brief statement on a dark evening in Castell Gandolfo. This attention was enhanced by a broader trend: in recent months, many Western countries, including the United States, have shown a renewed interest in religion and the church.
The dispute between US Vice President J.D. Vance and the Pope received little attention – even though, in theory, it could have been more important to Leo than the president’s barks. Vance, who converted to Catholicism in 2019 and often draws on more reactionary theological thinkers, urged Pope Leo to “be careful” when speaking about theology. The best thing, he said, would be for “the Vatican to stand firm on matters of morality.” Vance said later in a more cordial tone.
putting Africa ahead of Europe
Unlike his predecessor, nothing in Pope Leo’s speeches or statements so far has indicated disrespect for the Church in Europe or European countries. Pope Francis at times used strong language, accusing Europe of becoming exhausted and closing in on itself. In contrast, Leo has so far been consistently cordial when welcoming representatives of European countries. A six-day trip to Spain is on his agenda for June.
Nevertheless, it is clear that Leo’s heart and attention are strongly drawn to Africa. In April 2026, he spent eleven days visiting four African countries, already surpassing Benedict XVI’s total time on the continent during his eight-year papacy. From the beginning, Leo indicated that Africa would be a priority.
For papacy expert Ernesti, the “very deliberate decision by Leo” fits into a broader approach. He said Africa “has been on the Pope’s radar for 150 years.” The church on the continent is currently growing at an average rate of 3% annually, while the church in Europe is stagnant. “The balance of weight within the Catholic Church is changing,” Ernesti told us. A large number of Africans are working in the Vatican. Leo’s affinity for Africa – and the respect it shows – clearly also extends to his view of Asia and Latin America.
Since the confrontation between President Trump and Pope Leo, many observers no longer expect Leo, who was born in Chicago, to visit the United States while Trump is in office. There were rumors that the administration expected the Pope to attend the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, but received a particularly indirect response from the Vatican. This year, as American citizens around the world celebrate their nation, Pope Leo will be on the Mediterranean island of Lampedusa.
Lampedusa has become a symbol of displacement and refugee suffering since at least the summer of 2013, when Pope Francis visited the island a few months after his election and mourned the thousands who die each year trying to cross the Mediterranean Sea to Europe.
Lampedusa is also symbolic for Pope Leo. Hay also highlights the plight of millions of people forced to flee around the world.
His program for Spain makes this particularly clear. The final two days took him to Gran Canaria and Tenerife – tourist islands now teeming with refugees arriving by boat from Africa. They too are in Leo’s sight. In places where many Europeans celebrate the holidays, the Pope will remind people that migration and the fate of refugees are important concerns.
This article has been translated from German.