By Sanjeá Taylor, World News Editor
As Pope Leo XIV enters his seventh month as the new Pope, many have begun to reflect on who he is and what he hopes to accomplish in his new position as Pope. These early months have also given many a chance to observe his leadership style and understand the priorities he is setting for the Catholic Church.
On May 8, Pope Leo XIV, the first American Pope, stepped out onto the balcony at the Vatican and was announced as the new head of the Roman Catholic Church, which felt like only yesterday. Ever since then, Pope Leo XIV has been taking the time to lay the groundwork as he begins his journey as Pope.
Despite this, Pope Leo XIV has also been working zealously in his position; in fact, The Catholic Herald reported the release of his first book “Let There Be Peace! Words to the Church and to the World.”
Along with this, according to United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Pope Leo XIV also met with the College of Cardinals and had individual meetings with the heads of Vatican offices so he could listen and understand before making any major decisions for the Church.
Dr. Stepen Okey, a theology professor and the director of the doctoral program in applied theology at Saint Leo University, shared his thoughts on Pope Leo XIV and his leadership so far.
“My impression of him is that he seems like he is a very careful and very methodical thinker. He seems very measured in his public statements, and he seems like someone who takes time to reflect,” said Okey. “He doesn’t really speak off the cuff very much, and so I’m looking forward to seeing what his goals that he’s going to pursue as Pope will be.”
Okey shares his thoughts on Pope Leo XIV being the first American Pope: something many didn’t expect would happen.
“It’s very exciting and surprising to have a Pope be someone from the United States. It’s the first time that has happened in history, and it was not something I think most people expected to happen anytime in the near future,” said Okey.
“I think among the reasons it’s significant is that it means the leader of the Catholic Church is someone who has a pretty good understanding of the Catholic Church in the United States, which I don’t think has always been the case.” Okey added, “It will be good for the Church in the United States to have someone who is aware of the difficulties and challenges and tensions within the U.S. Church.”
When discussing the kind of influence Pope Leo’s leadership could have on the Catholic Church, Okey was also able to share his opinion.
“That is something that remains to be seen, but I think two things in his background that will be relevant: One is that he was a missionary for many years,” said Okey, “And I think the other thing that’s important is he has an advanced degree in canon law, and he’s spent a significant period of his career either in a leadership position in his religious order.”
Okey gave his view on how young people and the next generation may respond to Pope Leo XIV’s leadership.
“I think, in a lot of way for young people today, we don’t know how long Pope Leo will be Popefor; he’s elected in his late 60s—he could be Pope for 20 or 25 years. That’s a possibility,” statedDr. Okey.
Okey added that many people’s perception of the Pope is many times influenced by whoever held the position during their late teens or early twenties, so the impact of Pope Leo’s papacy on the younger generation will become clearer over time as it continues to grow.
Okey also discussed his hope for Pope Leo XIV’s legacy when people look back on his papacy in the future.
Okey said that it is important for a Pope to lead the Catholic Church in difficult times and to live his life as a person of faith, conscience and conviction, setting an example for how Catholics should live, especially during hard times.
“I’ll be curious to see what things look like on the other end of his reign. But I always just hope that he’ll be a good spiritual Father to us all, and I pray that he is aided in doing so,” stated Okey.
