Walking in the Big Shoes of Pope Francis, the Uphill Task that Awaits Pope Leo XIV, An American Pope
Dear Nyaaba,
You may recall that I reported to you that I had a particular fondness for the pope that succeeded the German, Pope Benedict and that, privately, I referred to him as “Ras Francis”. Do not get me wrong, he did not have dreadlocks nor did he speak in patois. And he most certainly was not from Jamaica, or any other Caribbean country. I used ‘Ras: to capture his audacious propensity to beat the uncharted road, a sort of rebellion, which I likened to the boldness of the Rastafari Movement. I know this comparison will offend others but I insist on being honest about how I felt about Pope Francis.
Nyaaba, Pope Francis left us on the morn of Easter Monday and was mourned worldwide, by Christian, Buddhist, and Muslim, in fact every man and woman to whom love, and mercy, justice and humility, mean a thing.
Yesterday a successor was chosen, an American born Cardinal who reportedly has been devout from childhood. His name is Pope Leo XIV. When I came into knowledge of his name, my interest was piqued, in the person who last was Pope Leo, Pope Leo XIII. What I found was heartening but will be the subject of another piece, maybe.
Nyaaba, Pope Francis was loved by many but respected by all. He was a living candid expression of his faith, so much that one could not begrudge him if even you disagreed with him. He left no doubt, even to the naysayer, that what he said and lived was truly his conviction. Though the change he occasioned was not seismic, the direction he took was audacious and so his successor may just have a tall order to live up to.
In the annals of papal history, few names will be as scrutinized, admired, or debated as that of Pope Francis. As the first Jesuit pope, the first from the Americas, and a pontiff who redefined the tone and focus of the Catholic Church in the 21st century, his legacy is both monumental and incomplete. For Pope Leo XIV, the first American to ascend to the papacy, following in Francis’ footsteps will not be a ceremonial exercise in continuity. It will be an uphill task, fraught with expectation, opportunity, and the unrelenting weight of modernity pressing against ancient tradition.
Pope Francis’ papacy was marked by an ethos of mercy, humility, and a fierce dedication to the marginalized. He opened doors that had long been shut: for dialogue with the LGBTQ+ community, for economic critique in a world of growing inequality, for environmental stewardship in an age of crisis. He was not without his critics, from both the conservative hierarchy and progressives who felt reforms didn’t go far enough, but his moral courage earned him a rare kind of global respect.
Pope Leo XIV inherits this mantle in a fractured Church. The Catholic world today is deeply polarized, between those yearning for the perceived certainties of tradition and those who see reform as not only necessary but urgent. As an American pope, Leo XIV brings with him the weight of a nation often viewed as both emblematic of innovation and symptomatic of ecclesial decline. The U.S. Church is marked by declining vocations, emptying pews, and political entanglements that challenge its prophetic voice. To lead from this context is to carry both the promise of fresh perspective and the peril of deep misunderstanding.
One of Leo XIV’s most pressing challenges will be to hold together a global Church that increasingly seems to speak different languages, not just culturally, but morally and theologically. The synodal process initiated by Francis aimed to foster dialogue, but its very premise, that the Church should listen more deeply remains controversial. Will Leo XIV continue this fragile experiment in shared discernment, or will he pivot toward doctrinal consolidation to calm turbulent waters?
Then there is the issue of credibility. After decades of sexual abuse scandals, trust in the Church hierarchy remains profoundly damaged. Francis took important steps in establishing mechanisms for accountability, yet many survivors and advocates remain unconvinced that justice has been done. Leo XIV must show that transparency is not a public relations strategy but a theological imperative.
Being the first pope from the United States adds another layer of complexity. America is often perceived abroad as a cultural exporter and moral enigma, home to both high ideals and deep inequalities. Leo XIV must avoid the trap of appearing parochial or partisan. His papacy must transcend the culture wars that have defined American Catholicism and instead offer a compelling vision of global solidarity rooted in the Gospel.
There is, however, cause for hope. An American pope, steeped in democratic discourse, shaped by religious pluralism, and alert to the technological and social transformations of the age, may bring new tools to an ancient role. If he can balance innovation with fidelity, moral clarity with pastoral sensitivity, and global leadership with local compassion, he may chart a course that honors his predecessor while making the role his own.
Pope Leo XIV does not walk into a vacuum; he walks in the long shadow of a pope who dared to change the tone of the Church. But every successor eventually becomes his own man. The big shoes of Pope Francis are not meant to be filled by imitation, but by the courage to walk forward, even uphill, with faith and integrity.
Respectfully yours,
Kasise Ricky Peprah
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