Pope Leo XIV reiterated fundamental Catholic doctrines regarding marriage and abortion on Friday, highlighting that the family is established on a ‘stable union between a man and a woman’ and that unborn children hold intrinsic dignity as creations of God.
The first American pope to lead the Catholic Church, Pope Leo made these statements during his initial meeting with the Vatican diplomatic corps. Although the gathering was private, the Vatican published both the pope’s prepared statements and those of the dean of the diplomatic corps.
This meeting, a customary procedure following a papal conclave, provides the newly elected pope with the opportunity to meet representatives from various governments prior to his formal installation Mass, which is set for this Sunday, as reported by Fox Local.
Leo’s remarks are unlikely to be well-received by Democrats who have consistently advocated for gay marriage and abortion rights. In contrast, these comments will be welcomed by traditional Catholics, many of whom perceived the late Pope Francis as excessively progressive on these matters.
Leo, affiliated with the Augustinian religious order, also emphasized the need for a strengthened dedication to multilateral diplomacy and the advancement of interfaith dialogue in the quest for global peace. Vatican City, acknowledged as a sovereign entity under international law, sustains diplomatic relations with over 180 nations and possesses observer status at the United Nations.
Since his election on May 8, Pope Leo XIV has prioritized peace as a fundamental aspect of his papacy, commencing with his inaugural address from the loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica, where he proclaimed, ‘Peace be with you all.’
He has articulated that peace transcends mere absence of conflict; it is a ‘gift’ that necessitates proactive engagement, including the cessation of arms production and the cultivation of considerate and deliberate communication, as reported by Fox Local. ‘Words, too, can inflict harm and even cause death, not just weapons,’ he remarked.
The pontiff further asserted that it is the responsibility of governments to foster peaceful communities, primarily by investing in the family unit, which is based on the enduring partnership between a man and a woman.
Moreover, he emphasized that everyone has a role in upholding the dignity of every individual, particularly the most vulnerable, including the unborn, the elderly, the ill, and the unemployed, as well as citizens and immigrants.
Pope Francis has strongly reiterated the traditional Catholic stance against abortion and euthanasia, labeling them as reflections of the contemporary ‘throwaway culture.’ Concurrently, he has made the inclusion of LGBTQ+ Catholics a hallmark of his papacy, consistently asserting their welcome within the Church.
Nevertheless, he has not modified Church doctrine, which defines marriage as a union between a man and a woman and continues to characterize homosexual acts as ‘intrinsically disordered.’ In 2012, while leading the Augustinian order, Leo criticized what he termed the ‘homosexual lifestyle’ and the role of mass media in fostering acceptance of same-sex relationships, which he argued was at odds with Catholic teachings, as reported by Fox Local.
A decade later, during the papacy of Pope Francis, he voiced his support for the call for a more inclusive Church, asserting that no individual should be marginalized solely based on their lifestyle choices.
In a related matter, the pontiff’s elder brother defended his decision to post on social media a derogatory remark about California Representative Nancy Pelosi, stating on Monday, ‘I would not have shared it if I did not somewhat believe it.’
Louis Prevost did not retract his offensive comment directed at the former House Speaker while speculating to British television host Piers Morgan about President Trump’s initial meeting with the next pope.
‘However, I was unaware that events would unfold so rapidly, and I can assure you that since then, I have remained quite reserved, holding back my thoughts on some of the content circulating on social media,’ he remarked, emphasizing that he identifies as a supporter of MAGA but wishes to avoid causing issues for his brother.
