Meeting the Future Pope

So, I got the chance to meet the guy who would next sit on the Papal throne, Pope Leo XIV, before he got the big gig. It was October 2023, and we were hanging out outside the Synod Hall at the Vatican.

A Charismatic Cardinal

From the get-go, Cardinal Robert Prevost struck me as a deep listener, thoughtful, and he definitely had something about him that you couldn't quite put your finger on.

The Synod and Church Reform

We were there because of this massive church reform pow-wow, called the synod, a pet project initiated by Pope Francis in his last days, right from his hospital bed. The meeting was massive, sprawling over 2023 and 2024, with folks like Prevost hashing it out at roundtables where, believe it or not, everyone, yes, including women (a first!), got an equal shot to speak their minds. Six months later and bam, Prevost is Pope Leo XIV, now steering the ship rather than just rowing along with everyone else.

Fr. Tony Banks' Perspective

"He's all about grace and really tunes in when you talk," said Fr. Tony Banks, a buddy of the new pope and a bigwig at the Order of St. Augustine. He thinks Leo's set to solidify these reforms with real, tangible changes in both thinking and practice.

Pope Leo XIV's Vision

When Leo made his first balcony speech as Pope, it was all about unity, justice, and walking the path together, men and women alike. The man's got a subtle yet resolute way about him, and getting elected at 69 shows the cardinals are betting on him to make these reforms stick around for a long while.

Pressing Issues and Challenges

Big questions are on the table now—like women's roles, power dynamics, and pushing the church to get out and mix it up more. Before this, if you were talking about famous Americans, Trump was the go-to name. But look who's the first American Pope now!

Answering Trumpism

His election could be the church's answering call to Trumpism. Leo isn't the type to look for a brawl, but he's big on building bridges and standing up for migrants, which is pretty much the opposite of what you-know-who was all about. After getting elected, Leo was all-in on the teachings of the Second Vatican Council, from the '60s, which was all about the church being a voice for the underdog, a topic close to Leo's heart.

Social Issues Advocate

Fr. Banks says Leo's super in tune with social issues and those living on the edges of society. Even during his pre-pope days running two terms for the Augustinian order, which's really into community, he pushed for these kinds of dialogues.

The Modern Pope

Leo's social media game (yeah, he's got an X account) even threw some shade at how the previous U.S. administration handled immigration. Cardinal Joseph Tobin of Newark spills that Leo, who he knows as "Bob," isn't naturally a fighter, but won't back down from a good cause.

Commitment to Accountability

Even though he's not about shaking up church teachings, expect him to stand firm on stuff like migration, peace, the environment. "He tells you what he stands for, not what he's against—that's key," notes Brother Mark O'Connor, a Catholic journalist and a comms guy for the Diocese of Parramatta in Australia.

Addressing Clerical Abuse

And about the ongoing clerical abuse scandal, his background in canon law and his time overseeing bishop appointments means he's seen this dark side up close. He's committed to applying the church's laws to tackle these issues and ensure accountability.

A New Chapter for the Church

Traditionally, a pope from the U.S. seemed off the table. But here's Leo, not just an American, but a globetrotter with Latin American roots, stepping into this role in a world that's more divided than ever. The 2025 conclave really opened a new chapter with Leo as a pontiff who's less about confrontation and more about connection and prophecy. © 2025 Cable News Network, a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved.