New Pope: Same Cautious Optimism
- john raymond
- May 8
- 2 min read
New Pope: Same Cautious Optimism
There is always a moment of stillness when the white smoke rises. A moment in which the ancient weight of the Roman Catholic Church tilts slightly forward, and the rest of us—those of us raised within its walls but walking now on freer ground—hold our breath. The election of Pope Leo XIV, formerly Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost of Chicago, marks that moment again. And once more, I find myself settling into the familiar posture of cautious optimism.
Leo XIV is, by all public accounts, no radical reformer. But he is also not a revanchist. This is no return to pre-Vatican II postures of obedience and authoritarianism. This is not a backward march into rigid patriarchy. For those of us who identify more closely with the Good Samaritan than with ecclesiastical hierarchy—those who believe Christ's true ministry lies in action and mercy rather than orthodoxy and power—his election provides, if not inspiration, at least relief.
He comes from missionary work in Peru, not from palace halls. He supported the cautious blessing of same-sex couples. He has spoken of inclusion, of the dignity of women, and of the need for a Church that engages with modern humanity instead of retreating into the baroque folds of its own rituals. His posture is neither confrontational nor transformative, but it is recognizably human. And perhaps that is enough.
Let us not overstate what is possible. The Roman Curia is a fortress. The College of Cardinals, while more balanced now than in years past, still bows to tradition more often than to justice. There will be no immediate reckoning with the abuse crisis. There will be no feminist revolution at the altar. But there may be movement. There may be subtle, slow shifts—shifts that don’t slam doors in the faces of the divorced, the queer, the questioning, or the simply exhausted.
For those of us who left, Leo XIV is no reason to return. But he may be a reason to watch, to listen, to hope that the Church might learn not just how to preserve its relics, but how to heal its people.
This is not faith in papal infallibility. It is not loyalty to a throne. It is simply a recognition that, in an age where global fascism rises and cruelty once more dresses itself in sacred cloth, even the smallest steps toward light are worth noticing.
So yes—new pope. Same cautious optimism. Let’s see what he does.
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