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Unearthed feedback from new pope alarm LGBTQ+ Catholics
Robert Mackey
After years of sympathetic and inclusive feedback from Pope Francis, LGBTQ+ Catholics expressed concern on Thursday about hostile remarks made greater than a decade in the past by Father Robert Prevost, the brand new Pope Leo XIV, by which he condemned what he referred to as the “gay life-style” and “the redefinition of marriage” as “at odds with the Gospel”.
In a 2012 deal with to the world synod of bishops, the person who now leads the church mentioned that “Western mass media is very efficient in fostering inside most people huge sympathy for beliefs and practices which might be at odds with the Gospel – for instance abortion, gay life-style, euthanasia”.
Within the remarks the cleric blamed mass media for fostering a lot “sympathy for anti-Christian life selections” that “when folks hear the Christian message it usually inevitably appears ideological and emotionally merciless”.
“Catholic pastors who preach towards the legalization of abortion or the redefinition of marriage are portrayed as being ideologically pushed, extreme and uncaring,” Prevost added.
He went on to complain that “various households comprised of same-sex companions and their adopted kids are so benignly and sympathetically portrayed in tv applications and cinema right now”.
The video illustrated his criticism of the “gay life-style” and “same-sex companions and their adopted kids” with clips from two US sitcoms that includes same-sex {couples}, The New Regular and Trendy Household.
Learn extra of Robert Mackey’s report right here: Unearthed feedback from new pope alarm LGBTQ+ Catholics
Key occasions
The election of Leo XIV has dominated the entrance pages of newspapers within the UK right now.
Unearthed feedback from new pope alarm LGBTQ+ Catholics

Robert Mackey
After years of sympathetic and inclusive feedback from Pope Francis, LGBTQ+ Catholics expressed concern on Thursday about hostile remarks made greater than a decade in the past by Father Robert Prevost, the brand new Pope Leo XIV, by which he condemned what he referred to as the “gay life-style” and “the redefinition of marriage” as “at odds with the Gospel”.
In a 2012 deal with to the world synod of bishops, the person who now leads the church mentioned that “Western mass media is very efficient in fostering inside most people huge sympathy for beliefs and practices which might be at odds with the Gospel – for instance abortion, gay life-style, euthanasia”.
Within the remarks the cleric blamed mass media for fostering a lot “sympathy for anti-Christian life selections” that “when folks hear the Christian message it usually inevitably appears ideological and emotionally merciless”.
“Catholic pastors who preach towards the legalization of abortion or the redefinition of marriage are portrayed as being ideologically pushed, extreme and uncaring,” Prevost added.
He went on to complain that “various households comprised of same-sex companions and their adopted kids are so benignly and sympathetically portrayed in tv applications and cinema right now”.
The video illustrated his criticism of the “gay life-style” and “same-sex companions and their adopted kids” with clips from two US sitcoms that includes same-sex {couples}, The New Regular and Trendy Household.
Learn extra of Robert Mackey’s report right here: Unearthed feedback from new pope alarm LGBTQ+ Catholics
Listed here are a number of the scenes across the Vatican and Rome this morning.
China has despatched congratulations to newly elected Pope Leo XIV and hopes the Vatican beneath the brand new pontiff will proceed dialogue with China “in a constructive spirit”, Reuters experiences a Chinese language overseas ministry spokesperson mentioned on Friday at a daily press convention.
Leo’s predecessor, Pope Francis, strained relations between the Vatican and China in 2020 when he described China’s Muslim Uyghurs as a “persecuted” folks, itemizing them alongside the Rohingya, the Yazidi, and persecuted Christians in Islamic nations.
Right here is the video from yesterday, when Pope Leo XIV was applauded by cardinals within the Sistine Chapel and prayed alone after being elected as the brand new chief of the Catholic church. He’ll maintain a mass there later this morning.
US media has reacted to the information that there’s to be an American pope for the primary time. The New York Instances mentioned the choice defied “a longstanding perception that church leaders would by no means choose a pope from a worldwide superpower that already has appreciable affect in world affairs.”
The Washington Submit spoke to Rev Gregory Sakowicz, the rector at Holy Title Cathedral in Chicago. He instructed their reporter as he was instructed Robert Prevost had been elected to be pope he appeared out the window and at that second the solar got here out.
“It’s a terrific day for Chicago, the nation and the world,” Sakowicz mentioned, including that upon listening to the information his congregation “erupted” and acted like “the Chicago Bears gained the Tremendous Bowl.”
Ferdinand Marcos Jr, the president of the Philippines, the place 80% of the inhabitants is Catholic, has congratulated Pope Leo on his election and mentioned he prayed that he would “proceed to carry the Church nearer to the poor and deprived”. In a press release carried by native media, he mentioned:
On behalf of the Philippines, I congratulate Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost of america on his election because the successor of Pope Francis and chief of the 1.4 billion-strong Catholic Church
“As the brand new pontiff, who took the papal title Leo XIV, ascends the Chair of St. Peter and assumes the mantle of Bishop of Rome, I pray that he’ll proceed to carry the Church nearer to the poor and deprived.
The Filipino individuals are additionally praying for the brand new pope’s power and good well being as he leads the devoted with grace, knowledge and compassion. Might his life and ministry encourage us to persevere in our each day stroll with our Lord Jesus Christ.
Pope Francis “clearly had his eye on Prevost” as his successor, the Related Press writes. Right here’s a bit extra evaluation from the company on how and why Pope Leo might have been chosen from amongst his friends:
Prevost had been a number one candidate for the papacy since Francis tapped him to be head of the Vatican’s highly effective Dicastery for Bishops, which vets bishop nominations world wide.
There had lengthy been a taboo on a US pope, given America’s superpower standing within the secular world, however Prevost prevailed, maybe as a result of he’s additionally a Peruvian citizen and had lived for years in Peru, first as a missionary after which as bishop.
Francis, the primary Latin American pope, clearly had his eye on Prevost and in some ways noticed him as his inheritor obvious. He despatched Prevost to take over an advanced diocese in Peru in 2014, then introduced him to the Vatican in 2023.
Earlier this yr, Francis elevated Prevost into the senior ranks of cardinals, giving him prominence going into the conclave that few different cardinals had.
Since arriving in Rome, Prevost had stored a low public profile however was well-known to the boys who rely.
Considerably, he presided over probably the most revolutionary reforms Francis made, when he added three girls to the voting bloc that decides which bishop nominations to ahead to the pope.

Dan Collyns
The election of Pope Leo XIV has been celebrated throughout Latin America, the place many hailed him because the second pontiff from the area, after his Argentinian predecessor, Francis.
The information prompted explicit elation in Peru, the place he lived and labored for greater than 20 years and was granted citizenship in 2015. Within the capital, Lima, the bells of the cathedral rang in celebration.
In his first look from the Vatican balcony, Leo XIV briefly switched from Italian to Spanish to handle the devoted “from my beloved diocese of Chiclayo, in Peru”, the place he served as bishop for greater than a decade.
Peru’s president, Dina Boluarte, hailed the “historic” election of Leo XIV, whom she described as a Peruvian “by alternative and conviction” who had devoted greater than 20 years of service to the nation.
Even so, Prevost has spoken out towards Boluarte’s authorities previously. In early 2023, he described his “unhappiness and ache” over the deaths of 49 protesters in anti-government demonstrations that erupted when President Boluarte took workplace in December 2022, changing Pedro Castillo who was pressured out for trying to droop congress.
On the time Prevost mentioned the unrest mirrored the historic neglect of Peru’s poor, saying: “This battle doesn’t symbolize the perfect of the nation.”
The wires have been digging out photos of the brand new pope together with his predecessors, Pope John Paul II, who led the Church from 1978 to 2005, in addition to Pope Benedict XVI (2005-13), and his late buddy Pope Francis (2013-2025):
Pope’s brother realises he has missed pontiff’s calls throughout interview
John Prevost, Pope Leo’s brother, has given an interview to the Related Press by which at one level he realised he had missed a number of calls from the pontiff. The information company writes:
He [John] gave the brand new pope a name again.
Leo instructed him he wasn’t inquisitive about being a part of the interview and after a quick message of congratulations and dialogue by which they talked like all two brothers about journey preparations, they hung up.
Persevering with the interview, John instructed the AP that he anticipated his brother to be a “second Pope Francis”.
He’s not going to be actual far left and he’s not going to be actual far proper … Sort of proper down the center.
Why select the title Leo?

Catherine Pepinster
What’s in a reputation? With regards to a pope – the whole lot. The white smoke from the Sistine Chapel earlier this night instructed the world {that a} new pope to succeed Francis had been elected – and for the primary time the pontiff is from the US.
But when Donald Trump and his Catholic convert Veep, JD Vance, are able to cheer, then they need to suppose once more. Cardinal Robert Prevost has chosen the title Leo XIV – and for those who’re a papal Leo, you are usually a reformer on the progressive finish of Catholicism.
That Prevost has determined to develop into Leo XIV will make Catholics suppose instantly of the final Leo – Leo XIII – and his 1891 encyclical or instructing doc, Rerum Novarum, which outlined staff’ rights to a good wage, protected working situations and the rights of staff to belong to commerce unions.
If Pope Francis was the Folks’s Pope, then Leo XIV is all set to be the Staff’ Pope.
Opening abstract
Hey and welcome to the Guardian’s dwell protection of Pope Leo XIV’s first full day in workplace, throughout which he’s anticipated to carry his first mass as chief of the Catholic church.
Robert Francis Prevost, the primary US-born pope, will have a good time a non-public mass with cardinals on the Sistine Chapel on Friday at 11am (0900 GMT), throughout which he’ll ship his a lot anticipated first homily as pope. It is going to be broadcast dwell.
The 69-year-old, who has spent a lot of his life in Peru, was elected by his fellow cardinals on Thursday throughout a secret conclave after the loss of life of his predecessor, Pope Francis.
With the selection of Prevost, consultants say, the cardinals opted for continuity with the late Francis, a progressive from Argentina who shook up the Church in his 12-year papacy.
“He’s a average consensus candidate who suits right into a delicate continuity, a mild continuity with Pope Francis, who is not going to alienate conservatives,” mentioned Francois Mabille, a researcher on the Paris-based suppose tank IRIS and writer of a e book on Vatican technique.
Right here’s what you need to know in regards to the new pope:
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Vatican spokesperson Matteo Bruni mentioned the selection of the title Leo was a “clear and deliberate” reference to the final pope named Leo. Leo XIII was elected in 1878 and was finest identified for his 1891 encyclical, Rerum Novarum, which outlined staff’ rights.
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In his first feedback after his election, Pope Leo XIV preached a message of “unity” and of “shifting ahead”. He mentioned he needs this message of peace to “enter your hearts, to succeed in your households and all folks, wherever they’re.”
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Many shared their pleasure at having an American pope, and particularly a pope born in Chicago. Metropolis mayor Brandon Johnson tweeted “The whole lot dope, together with the Pope, comes from Chicago” and former US president Barack Obama congratulated the “fellow Chicagoan” on social media.
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The election of Prevost was additionally celebrated in Peru, the place he has spent a lot of his life. Peru’s president, Dina Boluarte described him as a Peruvian “by alternative and conviction”.
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US president Donald Trump mentioned he was “stunned” however that it’s a “nice honour” to have an American pope. Leaders from nations world wide additionally supplied their congratulations.
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An account on X broadly believed to belong to the brand new pope reveals him to be considerably essential of the Trump administration. The account posted two articles that took difficulty with the stance by JD Vance, additionally a Catholic, on immigration. One article was headlined “JD Vance is fallacious: Jesus doesn’t ask us to rank our love for others.”
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Leo’s brother, John Prevost, instructed US media that Leo, was not afraid to talk his thoughts and that he was at the moment very sad with “what’s occurring with immigration”. He instructed the New York Instances: “I don’t suppose he’ll keep quiet for too lengthy if he has one thing to say … I do know he’s not proud of what’s occurring with immigration. I do know that for a truth.”
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In a 2012 deal with to the world Synod of Bishops, the then Father Robert Francis Prevost appeared to criticise homosexuality. He mentioned “Western mass media is very efficient in fostering inside most people huge sympathy for beliefs and practices which might be at odds with the Gospel – for instance abortion, gay life-style, euthanasia”.
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Like his predecessor, Pope Francis, Leo can be on the document as opposing the ordination of girls. He instructed a 2023 synod that “clericalizing girls” wouldn’t resolve issues within the Catholic Church and would possibly create new ones, in accordance with the Catholic information company.