Pope Leo XIV has expressed concern over “some things” going on in the US, revealing that he turned down plans for the AI version in his first major interview since the election.
The first American Pope stressed the importance of a letter his predecessor, Pope Francis, sent earlier this year to a bishop who was blamed for the Trump administration’s deportation plan.
“I was so happy to see how the American bishops picked it up, and some of them are brave enough to go for it,” he said.
However, Leo insisted that he would not engage in “partisan politics,” and said it would be up to the American church leader to lead his involvement with the Trump administration.
Leo, who was selected in May this year, interviewed Elise Allen, a senior correspondent at Catholic news site Crocs, for a biography.
Here are some highlights.
Leo said he has not yet had direct contact with President Donald Trump, but pointed out that his brother, Louis Pribble, met with Trump at the White House.
Leo said he was “very close” to his brother.
“There are some things happening in (unified) states that I am concerned about,” the Pope said, “some decisions can be made based on economics rather than human dignity and human support.”
It is understood that some of Leo’s main concerns about the Trump administration consider immigration, and he is understood to have nurtured the subject when he met US Vice President J.D. Vance earlier this year.
Leo says he is not afraid to “suppose the issue” and not to “continue to challenge”, and if given the opportunity he will directly involve Trump. Unlike his Argentine predecessor, he said, “The fact that I am American can’t say, among other things, as people did with Frances, “He doesn’t understand the United States, he doesn’t understand what’s going on.”
He emphasized that he “want to support” Trump in his efforts to “promote world peace.”
But he said he wanted to engage primarily with American bishops and “involve in partisan politics,” and when asked if being an American pope could shake him up more with Trump, he replied, “That’s not necessarily the case.”
Leo informs him that he will have less fighting with Trump than his predecessor, but he will not be afraid to speak up if necessary. Before the election, Leo reposted a tweet critical of Trump and Vance.
The world’s 1.4 billion Roman Catholic leaders addressed an issue that baffled his predecessors with his centuries-old office, artificial intelligence.
The Pope wants the church to “speak” on the topic, warning that it “completely ignores the values of humans and humanity, very wealthy people who are investing in artificial intelligence.”
Leo said he refused to approve the “artificial me” plan. This means “anyone can sign on to this website and have a personal audience with the “pope”” and receive answers to the questions.
“I said, ‘I’m not going to allow that.’ If there’s someone who shouldn’t be represented by an avatar, I’d say the Pope is on the list,” he explained. He did not elaborate on who proposed the proposal.
He emphasized that he was not opposed to AI, but said that losing the relationship between faith and science would “leave science as a cold shell in the sky.”
Pope Leo raised the possibility that genocide is taking place in Gaza, saying, “The word genocide is being thrown in more and more.”
However, he stopped making this explicitly himself, despite increasing international accusations. This week, an independent UN investigation concluded for the first time that Israel committed genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.
Speaking in July, Leo said: “Officially, the Holy See doesn’t believe that it can be declared at this point. There is a very technical definition of what genocide is, but people, including two Israeli human rights groups, have made that statement.”
He described the situation in Gaza as “very, very serious.”
Leo said administrative abuse is a “real crisis” and this must continue to be covered and is “unresolved.”
He said the church must show “the deep sensitivity and compassion for pain, the suffering that people endured in the hands of the ministers of the church.”
However, he also said that abuse could not be “the central focus of the church,” and that the accused have rights and sometimes there are cases of false accusations.
Leo said he would continue to welcome Pope Francis to LGBTQ Catholics, but added that the church’s teachings about sexuality are very unlikely to change.
“What I’m trying to say is what Francis said very clearly when he says, “Todos, Todos, Todos, Todos, All, Everything), “I invite people because they are sons or daughters of God.”
The Pope shows that he will carefully continue his approach to Francis, but he has built some boundaries.
He raised concerns that in parts of Northern Europe, several churches are publishing formal ceremonies for the blessing of same-sex couples. In 2023, Francis moved to allow priests to celebrate unofficial and uncritical blessings of same-sex couples.
Leo also said they need to support “traditional families” – fathers, mothers, children.
Leo said that understanding of women’s roles needs to “continue to develop” as women continue to promote their leadership roles.
He said: “I want to continue in Francis’ footsteps, including appointing women to leadership roles at various levels of the Church’s life.”
He said he would not make any changes “at this time” to the ordination of women’s butts, not members of the clergy, but would like to continue to “listen to people” and that the research group would continue to look into the questions.
“We’re walking along with it and seeing what’s coming,” he added.
Leo said in the short term, he will continue his diplomatic reconciliation and dialogue with Beijing. However, he added that he is in “continuous dialogue with many people in Chinese on both sides of some issues there.”
In 2018, the Vatican signed a secret agreement with China regarding the appointment of the bishop.
The contract has never been fully disclosed and is controversial. Chinese Catholics must choose to worship in a state-run church or in a underground congregation.
