Catholic sisters hoping that the new pope would continue Pope Francis’ efforts to make the church less clerical and more inclusive of lay people may have had that prayer answered with the selection of the first pope from the U.S., Cardinal Robert Prevost, now Pope Leo XIV.
Prevost, 69, has been a vocal proponent of Francis’ emphasis on synodality, which emerged early in the conclave as an important issue to a significant bloc of cardinals who can vote in the conclave.
In a 2023 Vatican News interview, Prevost connected synodality — efforts to make the church’s structures more inclusive and participatory — to addressing the polarization currently gripping the church. Another plus on Provost’s resume: His background in canon law might provide some comfort to synod skeptics who are concerned that it could pose threats to the church’s tradition.
Catholic sisters who were involved in synods during Francis’ papacy believe there’s no turning back — even with a new pope.
Synods are worldwide, grassroots conversations in which lay and religious Catholics discuss how the church can better meet them where they are, with the process beginning in parishes and then at the diocesean, national, and eventually global level, culminating with summits in Rome.Pope Francis sought to make the church less clerical and more participatory for laypeople; the question now is whether his successor will, too.
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With thanks to the National Catholic Reporter (NCR) and Chris Herlinger and Dan Stockman, where this article originally appeared.
