Before the Papacy: Pope Leo XIV's Insights on Church Challenges

Vatican City, May 17, 2025: In an interview with the Order of Saint Augustine before he was elected pope, Pope Leo XIV (then Cardinal Robert F. Prevost) reflected on the pressing challenges facing the Church in today's world. He highlighted key issues including youth ministry, lay vocations, and the evolving dynamics of the global community.

The new pope had also emphasised that while the Church’s mission to spread the Gospel remains unchanged, the realities faced by dioceses across the world vary widely.

“One of the things that I've learnt already… is that to be part of the Catholic Church is to understand that the Church is actually universal throughout the world,” he said, stressing that the Church must recognise the different “cultures, languages, and realities” across its global presence. He emphasised that local challenges must inform the Church’s approach in each region.

Addressing the decline in religious vocations, the then-cardinal argued that the Church must prioritise helping young people live their faith meaningfully.

“There are thousands and thousands of young people who are looking for some kind of experience that will help them to live their faith, and I think that has to come first anyway. Our priority cannot be looking for vocations. Our priority has to be living the good news, living the Gospel,” he said, adding that authentic Christian living naturally fosters vocations over time.

The new pope also reflected on the essential role of laypeople in the Church.

“Lay people have a very important role,” he said. “As Pope Francis has emphasised, their role is not to take over the duties of the clergy or to become clericalised, but to live out their baptismal vocation with greater clarity and purpose.”

On navigating modern challenges arising both in the world and within the Church, then-Cardinal Prevost called for a balanced approach that respects tradition while embracing new methods.

“We have to be open to change and be open to seeing new ways of doing things. However, we also have to be respectful of many wonderful traditions that have grown up in the Church through the years,” he concluded.

As he is installed as pope during a solemn Mass tomorrow in Rome, Pope Leo XIV brings with him a deep understanding of the Church’s diversity and the challenges facing its faithful. His approach promises both continuity with tradition and openness to new pastoral realities, especially in engaging youth and empowering the laity.

Article and Image Source: Rome Reports