EDITORIAL: A welcome voice of peace and hope

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With a puff of white smoke, 1.4 billion Catholics worldwide welcomed a new pontiff this week as Pope Leo XIV was elected by a Vatican conclave.

The former Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost is the first American pope. Given his leftist leanings on issues such as immigration and his apparent criticism of U.S. President Donald Trump in the past, it’s tempting to position him as the anti-Trump.

That would be inappropriate. Yes, the papacy has always been political. Generally, though, Leo’s predecessors have taken a world view of politics. Like the British monarchy, they use soft power and don’t dabble in partisanship.

In his first mass as Pope, Leo said the Christian faith is considered by many to be “absurd.” These days, power, wealth and technology dominate the world.

“A lack of faith is often tragically accompanied by the loss of meaning in life, the neglect of mercy, appalling violations of human dignity, the crisis of the family and so many other wounds that afflict our society,” he said.

It’s widely expected he’ll continue Pope Francis’ progressive policies in the broader world. As an insider who worked behind the scenes at the Vatican, he’ll likely take a more conservative route on internal church policies.

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At 69, Leo is considered a spritely youngster to be assuming papal power. It also reflects the fact that the cardinals who elected him have faith in his capabilities. The Medieval papacy was notoriously weakened because cardinals could never agree on a suitable candidate. They therefore elected very old popes in the expectation they would soon die and be replaced. Instead, they lived long and governed badly in their diminished old age.

Compared to the gerontocracy of other world leaders, Leo seems a young whippersnapper. He’s younger than Trump by almost a decade. He’s 13 years younger than Trump’s predecessor, Joe Biden, and seven years younger than King Charles III.

Leo’s first words to the thousands of people gathered to watch the historic moment of his ascension to this pinnacle of ecclesiastic power echoed those of his predecessor, Francis.

“Peace be with you,” he told the crowd.

We welcome his call for peace at this turbulent and troubled time. May his voice be one of wisdom and comfort to the world for many years to come.