All posts tagged: Leo

Is Pope Leo a Democratic Socialist?

Is Pope Leo a Democratic Socialist?

Published by Sam Flores

(RNS) — President Donald Trump has attacked Pope Leo for defending migrants and refugees and for opposing the war in Iran. The two do not agree on most issues of justice and peace. The pope is clearly not MAGA, but is he a Democratic Socialist? Modern popes tend to stay out of partisan politics, but when Leo speaks, he certainly sounds like a Democratic Socialist. Robert Prevost took the name Leo in honor of his predecessor, Leo XIII, who was the founder of Catholic social teaching and defended workers who were being exploited during the Industrial Revolution. Both the current Pope Leo and Democratic Socialists speak of solidarity with workers and the poor. Both support workers’ rights and strong unions. RELATED: Pope Leo proclaims church’s best-kept secret in ‘Magnifica Humanitas’ Democratic Socialists support increasing the minimum wage, while the pope goes further and supports a “living wage,” enough pay to provide a decent life for a family. Democratic Socialists and the pope are also concerned about the impact of artificial intelligence on workers. “The pursuit of …

Pope Leo doesn’t mess around

Pope Leo doesn’t mess around

Published by Sam Flores

(RNS) — Last week, Vatican Media published an article by editorial director Andrea Tornielli that began, “Even when he speaks about war and peace, migration or how to remain human in the age of artificial intelligence, the Successor of Peter remains, above all, a spiritual leader.” You might be tempted to say, “Well, duh.” But not, it seems, if you happen to be Donald Trump’s ambassador to the Vatican, Brian Burch. In an interview with The New York Times earlier this month, Burch sought to minimize Pope Leo’s criticism of the U.S. war with Iran by claiming that the pontiff was speaking not as the leader of the Roman Catholic Church or the Vicar of Christ but as just another secular head of state. “When the pope acts as the sovereign leader of the Holy See, he is coequal with world leaders,” he said. To which Tornielli responded by quoting from Pope Paul VI’s 1965 speech to the U.N. General Assembly, in which the pontiff described himself as “your brother, and even one of the …

Pope Leo calls for government action to protect children and workers from AI

Pope Leo calls for government action to protect children and workers from AI

Published by Sam Flores

This is the fourth of a series of columns by the author on Pope Leo XIV’s first encyclical, “Magnifica Humanitas.” This piece focuses on Chapter 4. For earlier columns, see Chapter 1,  Chapter 2 and Chapter 3.  (RNS) — After using Catholic social teaching to examine digital technology in Chapter 3 of his encyclical, “Magnifica Humanitas,” Pope Leo in Chapter 4 analyzes the impact of this technology on truth and democracy, children and education, workers and freedom. Like many of us, Leo worries the tools of the digital age “that could foster dialogue and participation are often used to construct distorted narratives and blur the boundaries between truth and falsehood, mixing facts with opinions.” He warns that those who command powerful technological and economic resources can control what others accept as true, which is especially important in a democracy. We see that already in social media and in commercial and political advertising. RELATED: Pope Leo applies Catholic social teaching to artificial intelligence In public discourse, Leo believes the truth of facts requires verification, cross-checking of sources …

Pope Leo urges migrant protection, integration on visit to Lampedusa | Migration News

Pope Leo urges migrant protection, integration on visit to Lampedusa | Migration News

Published by Sam Flores

Pontiff calls on people in Europe and the US to welcome and assist migrants during symbolic trip to Italy’s frontier island. Published On 4 Jul 20264 Jul 2026 Pope Leo XIV has urged Europe to do more to protect and integrate migrants during a visit to Italy’s Lampedusa island, a key arrival point for people crossing the Mediterranean from North Africa. The pope made the appeal on Saturday during a symbolic trip to the island, which has long been at the centre of Europe’s migration debate. Recommended Stories list of 3 itemsend of list Speaking during Mass, the pope described migration as a “momentous challenge” for European societies, but said the continent had the capacity to respond with compassion and planning. “Europe is capable of addressing the crisis in this region in a comprehensive manner,” he said, calling for immediate relief to be matched with a long-term plan to “receive, protect, support and integrate migrants”. He urged European countries to support development in migrants’ countries of origin, saying people should not be forced to leave …

Pope Leo, Mamdani send pro-immigrant message for US’s 250th anniversary | Donald Trump News

Pope Leo, Mamdani send pro-immigrant message for US’s 250th anniversary | Donald Trump News

Published by Sam Flores

Pope Leo XIV, the first pope born in the United States, and Zohran Mamdani, the first Muslim mayor of the country’s most populous city, have sent pro-immigrant messages to mark the 250th anniversary of US independence. Friday’s back-to-back statements came a day before the July 4 Independence Day celebrations, which fall on the anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776. Recommended Stories list of 3 itemsend of list While neither Pope Leo nor the mayor of New York mentioned US President Donald Trump, their statements represented a clear rebuke to the president and his hardline immigration policies. In a video broadcast from the Vatican to the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Pope Leo hailed the immigrants who shaped the US. He also appealed to the US to recommit to its founding principles and recognise human dignity, regardless of borders. “In these past 250 years, for so many peoples throughout the world, it was the firm resolve to achieve the noble vision of the nation’s founders that made America a byword …

SSPX defies Pope Leo, Vatican issues excommunication

SSPX defies Pope Leo, Vatican issues excommunication

Published by Sam Flores

ÉCÔNE, Switzerland (RNS) — A group of traditionalist Catholics directly defied Pope Leo XIV on Wednesday (July 1) by ordaining four new bishops without his consent, calling it their “sacred duty” during a ritual-laden ceremony at the society’s seminary in the Swiss village of Écône.  The Society of St. Pius X (SSPX) had received repeated warnings from the Vatican that their episcopal consecrations would constitute a schismatic act and trigger the automatic excommunication of all bishops involved. On Thursday (July 2), the Vatican went further than expected, declaring that the four new bishops, the two bishops who consecrated them, all priests of the SSPX and all lay Catholics who “adhere formally” to the group were now in schism and excommunicated. In an eleventh-hour appeal, Pope Leo had published a letter dated June 29 addressed to the superior general of the society, the Rev. Davide Pagliarani. “I implore you and ask you with all my heart: Turn back!” the pontiff wrote, saying the consecrations would be a “sin of extreme gravity” for threatening the unity of …