News | International
9 May 2025 23:55
NZCity News
NZCity CalculatorReturn to NZCity

  • Start Page
  • Personalise
  • Sport
  • Weather
  • Finance
  • Shopping
  • Jobs
  • Horoscopes
  • Lotto Results
  • Photo Gallery
  • Site Gallery
  • TVNow
  • Dating
  • SearchNZ
  • NZSearch
  • Crime.co.nz
  • RugbyLeague
  • Make Home
  • About NZCity
  • Contact NZCity
  • Your Privacy
  • Advertising
  • Login
  • Join for Free

  •   Home > News > International

    Pope Leo XIV has already told us a lot about himself, and his agenda in 10 minutes

    He was a close confidant of the previous pontiff, Pope Francis, and we learnt a lot about what he might be planning to do after his brief speech.


    There's a saying in the Vatican that roughly translates to: a fat pope comes after a thin one.

    It's supposed to reflect the fact cardinals have throughout history often chosen to elect a candidate to lead the Catholic Church with a different outlook to their predecessor. 

    On Thursday, however, that didn't happen.

    Robert Prevost entered this week's conclave as a cardinal and emerged Pope Leo XIV.

    He was a close confidant of the previous pontiff, Pope Francis, and we learnt a lot about what he might be planning to do when he spoke for roughly 10 minutes from the balcony overlooking St Peter's Square after his election.

    Let me break it down for you.

    Pope Francis got a shout-out

    Pope Leo was a friend of the late Pope Francis.

    In his address, which was delivered in Italian with part of it straying into Spanish, it didn't take him long to refer to the previous pontiff.

    He made special mention of Pope Francis's blessing delivered from the same balcony on Easter Sunday, just hours before his death.

    "We still have in our ears that weak but always courageous voice," Pope Leo told the crowd in St Peter's Square on Thursday evening.

    The fact Pope Leo drew parallels to his predecessor is unlikely to be an accident.

    He's not considered a compromise candidate or someone who'll take the church in a different direction.

    His election signals continuity for Catholics.

    Building bridges 'through dialogue'

    Peace, and the need to strive for it, was a key thread sewn through Pope Leo's address.

    His pontificate comes amid a backdrop of division and ongoing deadly global conflicts.

    Aside from the deep chasms opening in the pontiff's native United States linked to the 2024 Presidential election, wars in Ukraine and the Middle East continue to rage.

    As part of his opening speech, Pope Leo said: "Help us too, then help each other to build bridges — with dialogue, with encounter, uniting all of us to be one people always in peace."

    He then added an exclamation point: "Thank you, Pope Francis!"

    Pope Leo's predecessor spoke passionately about the need for global unity and peace, and if the new pontiff's first address is anything to go by, it's going to be one of the pillars of his papacy too.

    Augustinian austerity likely

    Pope Leo referred to himself in the speech as being "a son of Saint Augustine". It's important.

    He's going to be the Catholic Church's first Augustinian pope.

    It's a significant order within the church, and follows the teachings of St Augustine, including an emphasis on community and a shared pursuit of God.

    As a mendicant order, it relies on donations, rather than property or other funding streams, to carry out its work.

    Pope Leo is an Augustinian Friar. 

    Sometimes the way they live is described as "poverty", in that they count on the generosity of others for support and also pooling shared resources.

    In that way there's yet another link to Pope Francis. 

    Although he wasn't an Augustinian, he did famously live a simple lifestyle, and snubbed the opportunity to reside in the grand Apostolic Palace.

    Instead, he chose an austere room in a Vatican guesthouse.

    Pope Leo's lifelong links to St Augustine's teachings are likely to influence his papacy and it's no surprise he referenced it in his first speech.

    © 2025 ABC Australian Broadcasting Corporation. All rights reserved

     Other International News
     09 May: Where does Pope Leo XIV stand on key issues facing the Catholic Church?
     09 May: Giro d'Italia challenge led by outsider Michael Storer as Aussie hopes hinge on supporting favourites
     09 May: Australian IPL players consider leaving as India-Pakistan conflict causes travel chaos
     09 May: Mother's Day when you're struggling with infertility
     09 May: British and Irish Lions squad for tour of Australia named, England's Maro Itoje captain
     09 May: US and UK strike trade deal as Trump slashes tariffs on British steel and cars
     09 May: Geckos are hot property in the pet trade — and poachers are scouring New Caledonia's forests for them
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    Auckland FC have had All Blacks great Dan Carter in camp to help them prepare for the A-League finals More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    Businessman and convicted sex offender James Wallace has failed in a bid to lift his release conditions More...



     Today's News

    Entertainment:
    Blake Shelton's relationship with Gwen Stefani "still feels new" 21:59

    Environment:
    There's a severe thunderstorm warning for South Waikato, Western Bay of Plenty and Rotorua 21:57

    Entertainment:
    Alec Baldwin "really wants" more children 21:29

    Environment:
    A slip's closed State Highway 29 in the Kaimai Ranges between Waikato and the Bay of Plenty 21:17

    Entertainment:
    Patricia Clarkson has claimed Harvey Weinstein warned her she'd "never work again" 20:59

    Entertainment:
    Barry Keoghan "couldn't look" at Sir Ringo Starr when he went to visit the Beatles legend 20:29

    Entertainment:
    Andy Cohen thinks he's a good kisser 19:59

    Entertainment:
    Maren Morris finds co-parenting with Ryan Hurd easy 19:29

    Entertainment:
    Miley Cyrus found "a lot of [her] relationships burned down" when she lost her home in a fire 18:59

    Environment:
    There's flooding on Auckland's North Shore, as wild weather smashes the upper North Island 18:57


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2025 New Zealand City Ltd