Newly elected Pope Leo XIV is extensively thought of to be soft-spoken and cautious — however has not been shy lately about talking out on hot-button points, from the educating of gender ideology in colleges to local weather change.
Referred to as Robert Francis Prevost previous to his election Thursday because the chief of the Roman Catholic Church, the 69-year-old Chicago native’s views on a number of controversial matters could be gleaned from previous social media posts (and reposts), public remarks and interviews with media shops.
Local weather change
Like his predecessor, Francis, Leo XIV is a robust believer that the devoted have a accountability to deal with the planet.
The then-president of the Pontifical Fee for Latin America and Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops argued in November of final 12 months that it’s time to transfer “from phrases to motion” on the “environmental disaster.”
“Dominion over nature” shouldn’t change into “tyrannical,” Prevost pressured, arguing that man’s relationship with the setting have to be a “relationship of reciprocity,” in response to Vatican Information.
Prevost additional cautioned in opposition to the “dangerous” environmental impacts of technological growth and highlighted the Vatican’s set up of photo voltaic panels and use of electrical autos.
Gender ideology and homosexuality
Whereas Francis famously informed reporters, “Who am I to evaluate?” homosexual individuals and mentioned homosexuals “have to be built-in into society,” Leo XIV could also be much less accommodating.
In a 2012 handle to bishops, Prevost accused the information media and common tradition for encouraging “sympathy for beliefs and practices which can be at odds with the gospel,” in response to the New York Occasions.
Amongst these “beliefs and practices” Prevost cited had been the “gay life-style” and “various households comprised of same-sex companions and their adopted youngsters.”
Whereas bishop of Chiclayo in northwestern Peru, Prevost opposed a authorities initiative to advertise gender ideology teachings in colleges.”
“The promotion of gender ideology is complicated, as a result of it seeks to create genders that don’t exist,” he informed native information media on the time.
Abortion
On social media, Prevost has expressed robust assist for the Catholic Church’s anti-abortion stance.
In 2015, Prevost posted {a photograph} from the March For Life rally in Chiclayo, exhorting his followers: “Let’s defend human life always!”
Prevost additionally retweeted a 2017 Catholic Information Company article on New York Archbishop Timothy, Cardinal Dolan condemning abortion at a mass forward of the March for Life rally in Washington, DC.
In his homily, Dolan urged Catholics to “reclaim the assumption that the mom’s womb is the primal sanctuary, the place a helpless, harmless, fragile, tiny child is secure, safe, nurtured and guarded.”
Capital punishment
Prevost has expressed opposition to capital punishment, reflecting the Catholic Church’s place and Francis’ dedication to see the follow ended worldwide.
“It’s time to finish the dying penalty,” he wrote March 5, 2015, in an X submit
Euthanasia
In 2016, Prevost reposted a Catholic Information Company article wherein residents of Belgium, the place euthanasia is authorized, urged Canadians to not assist laws that will permit for assisted suicides.
“’Don’t go there’ – Belgians plead with Canada to not cross euthanasia legislation #Prolife,” learn the tweet that Prevost shared.
Within the article, Belgian docs, attorneys, and members of the family whose family members had been euthanized argued that assisted suicide threatens probably the most weak in society and compromises the doctor-patient relationship.
Gun rights
In October 2017, Prevost retweeted a name for brand new US gun management from Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) after a gunman murdered 60 individuals in Las Vegas.
“To my colleagues: your cowardice to behave can’t be whitewashed by ideas and prayers. None of this ends until we do one thing to cease it,” Murphy wrote within the tweet shared by the brand new pope.
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