Christ the Cornerstone

Pope Leo XIV leaves his mark in distinctive first year

Christ’s resurrection is the beginning of a new humanity; it is the entrance into the true promised land, where justice, freedom, and peace reign, where all recognize one another as brothers and sisters, children of the same Father who is Love, Life, and Light. (2026 Easter “Urbi et Orbi” message of Pope Leo XIV)

The publication date for this column is May 8, 2026, the one-year anniversary of the election of then-Cardinal Robert F. Prevost as the successor of St. Peter, Vicar of Christ and Bishop of Rome.

It has been a very full year, but it has passed quickly, and our new Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV, has clearly established himself as someone who can speak to the challenges and opportunities of our time with both humility and boldness.

A year ago, many believed that someone born in the United States had no chance of being chosen by the College of Cardinals to serve as the head of the universal Church. The Holy Spirit proved them wrong.

Some hoped that the new pope would reverse many of the major policies of his predecessor. Pope Leo has done the opposite—affirming his commitment to the priorities set by Pope Francis while showing himself to be a pastor with his own distinctive leadership style.

During the past 12 months, Pope Leo has focused on bridging global divides, promoting peace and managing Vatican finances. He has established a tone of pastoral listening, met with world leaders and continued his predecessor’s commitment to advocating for refugees and caring for the environment (“our common home”). Unity and peace are the themes that the pope—a member of the Augustinian order who humbly calls himself a “son of St. Augustine”—returns to regularly.

Some notable accomplishments from Pope Leo’s first year include:

—International outreach: Pope Leo has held multiple meetings with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, advocating for a ceasefire in a war that began when Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022. He undertook his first international trip to Turkey, where he visited Istanbul’s Blue Mosque and marked the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and other Christian leaders, followed by a trip to Lebanon. And he has been outspoken in his efforts to secure a ceasefire in the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, and Israel’s conflict with Hezbollah in Lebanon.

—Pastoral focus and leadership: Pope Leo has emphasized humility and listening in his management of Church affairs, confirming senior Vatican Curia officials on a temporary basis before initiating reforms, and using his background as Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops to engage with clergy and lay leaders.

—Environmental and political stance: The Holy Father maintains a strong focus on environmental issues and has been critical of programs lacking climate action. He has pointedly criticized immigration policies that demean human dignity and freedom. He speaks the mind of the Church with both compassion and boldness.

—Initial messages: Pope Leo XIV set an overarching theme for his papacy with his first message, “Peace be with you all.” He has continued to be outspoken in his opposition to war and in his insistence on the nonviolent leadership style that is Jesus’ gift to his followers.

After just one year, it is clear that Pope Leo is a hands-on, internationally focused leader whose primary concern is to proclaim the Gospel and thereby promote the unity and fraternity of all God’s people.

What should we look for during the coming year and beyond? More importantly, what should we pray for? How can our prayers help our Holy Father carry out his unique mission?

We Catholics believe that the pope exercises supreme pastoral, doctrinal and juridical authority over the Catholic Church worldwide, serving as the visible head and ultimate teacher and authority on matters of faith and morals. This is an awesome responsibility, and as recent popes have reminded us, the sheer weight of the papal office would be too much for any individual to carry without the help of God’s grace.

We Catholics also believe that the pope’s teaching on faith and morals—when exercised under specific conditions through the grace of his papal office—is infallible. But we also must acknowledge that the pope himself is only human. He does not possess superpowers.

Pope Francis regularly reminded us that he was a sinner. Certainly, Pope Leo as a son of St. Augustine, sees himself in a similar light. This means that he needs our prayerful support to overcome his human weaknesses and to freely accept the graces that only God can give him.

As we continue this season of Easter joy and begin the second year of our Holy Father’s ministry as pope, let’s pray that God will continue to bless his servant Leo XIV with both the humility and the boldness he needs to unite and inspire us as faithful missionary disciples of our Risen Lord, Jesus Christ. †