It has not even been six months since the American missionary priest and bishop, Robert Prevost, appeared on the central balcony of St Peter’s Basilica and was introduced to the world as Pope Leo XIV.

A native of Chicago and a former international head of the Augustinian Friars, the religious order he joined as a young man in the 1970s, Prevost had been a cardinal less than two years before his May 8 election as Bishop of Rome.

It’s safe to say that most Catholics around the world, including those in the United States, didn’t know much about him, except that since 2023, he had led the Vatican office that assists the pope in selecting new bishops.

How many people actually knew that he spent most of his life working as a missionary in Peru and had never been a bishop in the United States? This is a great fortune that spared him from being tainted by any association with the bishops in his native country, many of whom actively or tacitly opposed the pastoral and social priorities of Pope Francis.

A gentle shepherd, not an Old Testament prophet

In these early months, it’s become quite clear that Leo is – unlike them –100 percent committed to advancing his predecessor’s program of Church renewal and reform, as well as Francis’s efforts to promote ecumenical and interreligious dialogue, peace among peoples, and protection of the environment (care of God’s creation).

To be sure, the current pope, who is 70 years old, is doing this more peacefully and quietly than Francis, but he is doing it. The late pope was a disruptor and, because of this, he faced (and even created) opposition that could have been avoided.

Leo has been very careful to forge his own style, acting more like a “gentle shepherd” rather than an Old Testament prophet, which was often how his predecessor exercised the papal ministry.

Leo’s much calmer approach has delighted more traditional-minded Catholics, especially those in the clergy, who often accused Francis of being too political and not preaching the Gospel (which was an absurd accusation).

In fact, the Jesuit pope, like his papal namesake (Francis of Assisi), passionately preached the “marrow” (i.e., the essential and challenging core) of the Gospel sine glossa, something that often disturbs people.

The question is whether Pope Leo, the gentle shepherd, is actually being too gentle at a time when a world steeped in darkness could greatly benefit from a Church and its members passionately and forcefully preaching the light of the Gospel. Unfortunately, this passion and forcefulness are not very evident in this pontificate.

Making the message relevant

Here are three very brief suggestions on how Leo can change this immediately.

First of all, he should continue preaching the Gospel message as he has been doing up until now, but he must put it in the context of actual life experiences. He rarely does this for some reason.

For example, when addressing Arab-speaking people who attend his Wednesday general audience, he has only occasionally made reference to the actual war and strife in Gaza. He needs to do this more often and with emotion and greater passion.

Otherwise, his message could be seen as proforma or “pie in the sky,” rather than relevant to real lives and actual situations. His preaching also needs to be more challenging. The Word of God cuts like a two-edged sword, and all of us need to be pushed to respond to the not-always-easy demands of the Gospel.

Second, Pope Leo is probably the most competent administrator the papacy has seen in decades if not centuries. His many years of experience as the leader of an international religious order, bishop of a diocese, and head of a major Vatican department makes him uniquely qualified to govern, especially Church personnel.

Cardinal Dolan must go

A top priority right now should be the appointment and oversight of bishops, especially those who are negligent in their duties. Exhibit A is Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York. Already past the age of 75, he could easily be retired and replaced.

And he must have been immediately replaced after he extolled a right-wing apologist for Donald Trump, who regrettably was killed several weeks ago, as the second St Paul. It boggles the mind that a Catholic bishop who obtained the rank of cardinal could say something so asinine and irresponsible.

Saint Paul loved Christ and dedicated his life to Him. Dolan’s comparison would, logically, make Donald Trump a second Christ! The cardinal needs to go, and Leo should not delay in finding a replacement. There are others too who need to be replaced, and not just in the United States. The pope must address this urgency quickly.

And the third area is the pope’s interaction with the world and its leaders. It was refreshing to read that Leo acknowledges the Vatican and the pope cannot solve all the world’s problems and should not be expected to do so.

He sees his and the Church’s role as encouraging and supporting good governance, international relations, and peace among nations. But, again, he could do this somewhat more forcefully.

Pope Leo lacks a charismatic personality. In fact, it’s quite flat and even dull. However, it wouldn’t take much to boost his gentle demeanor – which many Catholics welcome after the turbulent pontificate that preceded his – if he simply displayed a bit more passion and emotion.

Let’s pray that he gets there.