For the first time in his papacy, Pope Leo XIV has shared an opinion on the matter of US politics, criticizing contradictions in the anti-abortion debate often made by pro-life advocates.
The first US-born pontiff did not name anyone; however, he emphasized that being pro-life means endorsing that ideology in all of its forms, including opposition to the death penalty and support for humane immigration policies.
“Someone who says ‘I’m against abortion’ but says ‘I am in favor of the death penalty’ is not really pro-life,” said Pope Leo XIV. He also stressed that the same principle applies to the inhumane treatment of immigrants in the US.
Indeed, it is rare for a pope to address political issues so directly. But is it that surprising coming from Pope Leo XIV? Indeed, what do we really know about him?
Robert Prevost is the first North American to be elected pope. A symbolic and historic choice for the Catholic Church, his accession as leader of the world's 1.4 billion Catholics reflects the shifting geopolitical powers of the day and signals a shift in the world order of the Church. Prevost was not a front-runner and his election certainly surprised some.
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