Pope Leo XIV Strikes a Diplomatic — And Distinctively American — Path For The Papacy
(ANALYSIS) In his first major interview since ascending to the papacy, Pope Leo XIV offered up a preview of how his leadership may chart a distinct course — one that is both rooted in his American identity and diplomatic in tone.
Speaking to Crux correspondent Elise Allen for an upcoming biography, “Leo XIV: Citizen of the World, Missionary of the XXI Century,” the first U.S.-born pope addressed pressing global and ecclesial issues, including President Trump, AI’s role in society and the deepening crisis in Gaza.
Taken together, the pope’s remarks suggest a papacy that intends to be one of measured critique, distancing itself from overt partisanship while not shying away from moral confrontation when warranted.
READ: Majority Of US Catholics View Pope Leo XIV Favorably
The fact that Leo XIV hails from the United States inevitably casts a unique light on his role as pope. In the interview, he acknowledged this very point himself – noting that his American background makes it harder for critics to dismiss his concerns about U.S. affairs on the grounds that he “doesn’t understand” the nation. It was a common critique levied by many against the Argentine-born Pope Francis.
Pope Leo was also quick to emphasize that he will not wade into partisan politics, instead placing the responsibility for political engagement primarily on the shoulders of the U.S. bishops.
“It’s up to church leaders in the United States to take the lead,” he told Crux, reinforcing a more decentralized, subsidiarity-driven model of Catholic political engagement.
While this approach may shield this pope from being seen as politically meddlesome, it also allows him to retain moral authority by staying above the fray — a calculated move, particularly in the polarizing climate of American politics.
Nonetheless, Leo did not hold back entirely. He expressed support for the letter issued earlier this year by Pope Francis condemning the Trump administration’s immigration deportation agenda.
“Some [bishops] were courageous enough to go with that,” he said.
This past February, Pope Francis had sent a letter to American bishops denouncing the U.S. government's mass deportation program under Trump.
At the same time, this pope is clearly less confrontational than his predecessor. While he said he voiced “concern” over Trump-era policy decisions — particularly those that prioritize economics over human dignity — he refrained from direct condemnation. The pope noted his willingness to challenge the Trump administration if necessary, but also expressed a desire to support efforts “promoting peace in the world.”
During the interview, Pope Leo’s reference to his brother, Louis Prevost, a Trump voter, added a humanizing dimension.
“Even though one is far on one end politically, we’re in different places,” he said of his brother.
One of the more striking revelations was Leo’s decision to reject proposals to create an AI version of himself. In a world increasingly saturated with synthetic representations of authority, Leo’s refusal highlights a growing unease in the Church about the role of artificial intelligence in spiritual life.
The decision underscores Pope Leo’s apparent desire to preserve the human, incarnational aspect of leadership — a pope not mediated through a computer, but encountered in person. In an age of deepfakes and chatbots, the pope’s stance offers a theological counterpoint: Like you, the pope is a person.
This may also be seen as an early attempt to place ethical guardrails around the church’s own use of emerging technologies, a space where religious voices, especially in the West, has largely lagged behind secular discourse.
Turning to international affairs, Pope Leo cautiously addressed the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza. While stopping short of declaring it a genocide (a recent U.N. report called it just that), the pontiff acknowledged that the term is being “thrown around more and more” — even referencing Israeli human rights groups who have used it.
Describing the situation as “very, very grave,” Pope Leo conveyed both moral seriousness and institutional caution. It's a classic Vatican geopolitical balancing act. This pope has figured out how to do just that in the face of much division in the U.S. and around the world.
The pope also didn’t shy away from other divisive issues, including who he would cheer for at soccer’s World Cup — the U.S. or his adopted nation of Peru — next summer. Again, he was diplomatic.
“Good question,” he replied. “Probably Peru and just because of affective bonds. I’m also a big fan of Italy.”
Clemente Lisi is executive editor at Religion Unplugged.