Leo XIV's Agenda on Peace and Migrants. For the Curia, the Finance Dossier

Those who know him know that he has very clear ideas about a real program of pontificate, with one point in first place: peace. Robert Francis Prevost , a son of Chicago with Latin America in his heart, is considered the most Bergoglian of American bishops, a space he shares with Blase Cupich , who leads the diocese of Chicago. The name chosen represents the program: Leo XIV, which refers to Leo XIII , the Pope who with Rerum Novarum founded the modern social doctrine of the Church.

A choice that says a lot about this new Pontiff, not yet seventy years old (he will turn 70 on September 14), the first North American in the history of the papacy, who thus also overcomes that sort of resistance of the Catholic Church, so far very deep-rooted, to entrust its leadership to a prelate from the US superpower. There are many issues to be addressed quickly, including those of papal finances: despite the reforms initiated (and largely implemented) by Francis, the Holy See suffers a deficit of over 70 million, due to the decline in offerings and very high expenses.

His profile responds to the needs expressed by the General Congregations, of a pastor but also capable of being a "guide", and his experience as a cardinal of a powerful dicastery such as that of the bishops, and first bishop in Peru and even before that superior general of the Augustinians , responds to this request. First of all, Prevost has that "social" profile and closeness to the poor and suffering developed in many years of missionary activity in Peru, where he was bishop of Chiclayo, which puts migrants and the poor at the top of his agenda, which marries with the contents of Bergoglio's encyclical Laudato Si'. What do you think? He is considered progressive on various issues, such as welcoming migrants, climate change and closeness to the poor, and more conservative for example on questions relating to doctrine.

Part of the new Pope's program is in his greeting speech from the Loggia of St. Peter , which he wanted to read for safety, almost entirely in Italian and a small part in Spanish. In the foreground, in these times of wars spread across the globe, of division and fragmentation at a planetary level, the first question remains precisely the end of conflicts. Pope Leo spoke of "disarmed peace" and "disarming, humble and persevering peace". He recalled the last blessing to Rome and to the internal world of Pope Francis on Easter Sunday, the day before he died, thus wanting to follow up on that same blessing. The invitation was also to help each other to "build bridges", "with dialogue with encounter, uniting us all, to be one people, always at peace".

The new Pontiff wanted to recall the will to “walk together”, as a “united Church”, a missionary Church, which still “builds bridges”. Proposals that could not be more Bergoglian, which cannot fail to foresee a path of continuity, even if in the renewal of attitudes that are perhaps more calm, more thoughtful, with a style that is perhaps less overwhelming and media-oriented than that of his predecessor, to whom however Prevost did not fail to address his “thank you”. And in this therefore he cited the “synodal Church”, which suggests that even this great construction site opened by Francis will not be exhausted.