NEW YORK (RNS) — Almost six months into his papacy, Pope Leo XIV is forging his own path in shaping the Catholic Church’s tone and priorities, Vatican experts said in a panel discussion on Wednesday (Oct. 22).
Speaking at Religion News Service’s symposium “God, Government and the Algorithm: The New Rules of Belief and Power” at Trinity Commons in New York City, three leading voices on Catholicism — the Rev. James Martin, a Jesuit priest and author; Christopher White, Georgetown University scholar and former National Catholic Reporter journalist; and journalist Nate Tinner-Williams, founder of Black Catholic Messenger — reflected on how the first United States-born pope is balancing continuity and change in a polarized church and world, moderated by Claire Giangravé, RNS Vatican reporter.
“I think the word I like best for him is reserved,” said Martin, who met with Pope Leo on Sept. 1 at the Vatican’s Apostolic Palace. The private meeting, held in the papal library, was widely viewed in Rome as a public reaffirmation of support for Martin and his pastoral ministry to LGBTQ+ Catholics.
When Martin asked Leo how he felt about his new position, the pope expressed a certain “serenity,” as Martin described it. “He said, ‘look, I believe that the Holy Spirit was behind this,’” Martin said. “‘So, why wouldn’t I be relaxed?’”
On questions of LGBTQ+ inclusion in the Catholic Church, Martin said the pope assured him he would continue Pope F …