In Defence of Pope Leo XIV
Amid controversy surrounding recent remarks from the US President, it’s worth stepping back to understand who Pope Leo XIV truly is and what his role entails.
As many of us are aware, recent days have seen some troubling comments made by the President of the United States and some of his supporters regarding Pope Leo XIV.
Without getting into those remarks directly, I’d like to clarify what Pope Leo truly stands for and the broader mission and calling of a Pope.
The Role and Mission of the Pope
As the successor of St Peter, the Pope carries on the mission of one of Jesus Christ’s apostles. This lineage stretches back nearly 2,000 years.
The Pope provides spiritual leadership to the 1.4 billion Catholics around the world, guiding them in their relationship with Christ, prayer, and the Christian mission that every believer is called to. There are other duties too, but I won’t go into those here.
Pope Leo XIV, like all Popes, is centred on Christ—a devout man of God who seeks to lead from this foundation. As a missionary, Pope Leo also maintains a deep, personal connection with the poor and marginalised across the globe.
Who Is Pope Leo XIV, Really?
It’s important to remember that Popes are human beings too, with their own unique qualities and interests. For example, Greg Sheridan wrote in The Australian on 14 April 2026, that “… Leo, the first Pope from the US, is no crypto-communist. When he lived in Chicago, Leo voted in Republican primaries.
“He has praised the NATO alliance, showing he’s not some leftie who demonises soldiers. He has also said that nations have the right to secure borders and decide who comes into their countries, but that they should do so with dignity and care.”
Make your own conclusions from this statement.
Sheridan also mentioned, “What on earth would you expect the Pope to say? Leo is a thoughtful, cautious, sensible, prayerful Pope.”
A Shepherd, Not a Politician
However, as the successor of St Peter and leader of the Catholic Church, Pope Leo XIV also needs to speak out on global issues.
Recently, he’s addressed topics like the actions of African dictators, the conflict in Ukraine, issues involving China, and the Iran war.
Due to Australia’s links with US media, we sometimes focus on certain issues, which can give a skewed view of Pope Leo’s messages.
In defence of Pope Leo XIV, it’s worth noting that he leads primarily as a Christian spiritual guide, not a politician.
As he has said himself, “We need personally to experience the closeness of the Master, to know that we have been seen, loved, and chosen by the Lord by pure grace and without merit on our part.” (Pope Leo XIV)
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Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.
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Few would dispute the generalizations you have made. The particulars however regarding the Iran war are quite different.
Os soon as the war began the Pope condemned it, denouncing all violence, calling for an immediate ceasefire, and a return to negotiations.
These specifics are outrageous on two grounds: first, there has not been such a just war since the Allies took up arms against the Nazis; after all, their objectives are the same.
Preventing Iranian nuclear missile development is the most pressing military need in the world today, without question!
We can go on with other reasons for stopping Iran: global terrorism and executions of its people, but no matter the just causes, the Pope is apparently always right in calling for peace.
Well this observant Catholic calls bullshit!
Justice is the foundation of peace. Peace for its own sake without proper justice is pacifism, a very unholy state.
Dear Matt … you are a dear brother in Christ, but I have major issues with Leo XIV.
Specifically:
Pope Leo XIV said in December 2025, “I think those are lessons that would be important also to be heard in Europe or North America, that we perhaps should be a little less fearful and look for ways of promoting authentic dialogue and respect.”
Ref: https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/pope-islam-quote/
Islam is death to Christians. There is no real “authentic dialogue and respect” when islam terror is involved.
We need to understand the Islamic definition of peace.
In order to have Dar al-Salam (house of #peace) you must have Dar al-Islam (house of #Islam).
Where you don’t have Dar al-Islam you have by definition Dar al-Haram (house of #war).
So #Muslims have to ultimately kill or convert all #infidels in order to reach peace.
This is where the Islamic Ideology (aka the islamic political system) and Aussie values really clash.
It has little to do with religion but political expansion. Leo needs to wake up.
Further… The Vatican Library has opened a prayer room for Muslims.
Seriously??? Allowing demonic prayers in the Vatican??? INSANITY
Fact checked from a catholic source: https://www.thecatholictelegraph.com/fact-check-did-the-vatican-library-open-a-prayer-room-for-muslims/106761
Christians are not even allowed to set foot in Mecca for being considered spiritually impure and dirty. So why on Earth would the Vatican do something like this?!
I agree with the two gentlemen who have already commented, I just couldn’t put it as well. As a born again Christian scripture tells me I am in dwelt by the Holy Spirit & that he will lead me into all truth. Jesus also said “my sheep will know my voice.” As I read the above article I got that sense that I get when something just isn’t right. I actually felt quite sick. Leo is not my pope. Matthew 24 Jesus told us what to look for in the last days.
First verse – “do not be deceived.” If ever we need the have a full knowledge of the Word & discernment, it is most certainly in the times in which we live. I am not looking for a false peace spoken by false prophets. I am looking for true peace that sometimes can only come after things are torn down. The great lie of Satan is that we must accept all things & just love everyone. There are times when true love goes to battle for truth & people get hurt in the process. It’s all laid out clearly in scripture. Jesus also said he didn’t come to bring peace but a sword & that he would bring division MTH 10:24. If ever we needed to see division again it is now, dividing truth from error. Sorry but Leo doesn’t pass the pub text.
I must say I really Love Pope Leo!!!!!!
Love what God loves & hate what God hates
I could not disagree more with this post about this Pope or any Pope thereoff.
The RC church is by definition not a Christian Church & as a student of history & church history I can not recall that any Pope has been any point & time a born again, Spirit filled Christian.
The official title of the Pope: Vicarius Iesu Christi & Principis Apostolorum are blasphemous titles!
He does not know or understand the Bible based on his recent comments.
He is clearly on the left side of politics, maybe he vote Republican in Chicago, as the RC is at least strongly opposed to abortion, so he could not get himself to vote Demo(n)crat.
I did not hear him protest about the aprox. 40,000 Iranians being butchered on the streets or the 8 Iranian women going to be hanged on the gallows because they are not wearing hijabs.
His recent visit to a Mosque & trying to unite our precious faith into “Chrislam” makes him a prime candidate to be the “False Prophet” of Revelation 13. And yes I love all people, my own wife was RC & I am not saying that there are no RC Christians; but that is in spite of the false doctrines . (The RC Church has about 1600 false doctrines & rules that are not in the Bible)
Sincerely Yours
Pastor of Harvest Church Caloundra
https://www.harvestministriesnz.com/post/come-out-of-her-my-people
https://www.harvestministriesnz.com/post/how-to-share-the-gospel-with-catholics
https://www.amazon.com.au/Woman-Rides-Beast-Catholic-Church/dp/1565071999
Today’s Roman Catholic church with its earthly headquarters in Rome traces its roots back to Peter the Apostle Jesus Himsel selected to head up His earthly church He gave one promise the gates of hell will never prevail against it All other Christian churches are groups that parted ways from the core Church In the case of the Church of England it was their earthly King Henry the 8th who angered by Rome’s refusal to grant an anulment to rid him of his barren wife and thus ensure his line would continue to rule England declared himself the head of the English church and severed ties with Rome Then Martin Luther rebelling against perceived corruptions and backed by wealthy Princes chafing at the authority of Rome established the Lutheran Church Over time every time these breakaway churches had a doctrine that irked people another break away would occur
Not all followers of Christ’s teachings are found in churches There are good people who have never had the blessing of knowing anything about Jesus but they love their neighbour and live out the 10 commandments We do not have to judge each other In fact God warned us not to for only God knows the heart and whether actions were done in a spirit of charity I am a Roman Catholic and cherish my gift of faith My antecedents lost much in passing on that gift “in spite of dungeon, fire and sword” The current Church has been severely wounded by inner corruption but it will endure beccause that is Christ’s promise.
As a Catholic I am fed up with having to endure 50 years of Leftist Popes. Pope Leo is a nice man but horribly confused. He should read the Koran and Hadiths which order that Muslims should make Deals when they are in a weak position , but, as soon as convenient , renege on them . The Koran is about promoting Lies and Murder, etc. It preaches the opposite to Christianity. It is satanic. Instead of undermining President Trump , Leo should be praising him for wanting to free the people of Iran from an evil cult which has murdered some 40, 000 innocent people whose only “crime ” is demanding the Human Right to Freedom of Speech and freedom to choose the religion of their choice, in other words they want to live in a secular society like their Muslim neighbour, Azerbaijan. :Pope Leo should demand that countries stop killing Christians around the World and that Western nations join Trump in a Crusade against Islam which is Leo’s Christian Duty ! Dialogue with Muslim countries is never going to work–nothing but hot air which for 50 years has achieved NOTHING !