As a Augustiner-Eemit, his spirituality is contemplative, and at the relatively young age of 69-which became visible on Saturday when he put a large wooden cross up the stairs to the main altar-he has no reason to hurry. A central question is how he will shape the central administration of the church in the Vatican, the Roman Curia, which Francis often dealt with and sometimes criticized sharply. Leo has shown that he wants to work with the institution, but has to avoid being controlled by her.
The voice of the young generation
Some Vatican observers think that he still has to find his voice and use his linguistic potential better.
"I understand that he wants to make sure that he speaks Italian-and he is good-since the Pope is Bishop of Rome," said Robert Mickens, a long-time Vatican commentator. "But he has to speak English if he wants to reach his target audience."
During the youth celebration, Leo used his language skills better and switched between Spanish, English and Italian. On Tuesday evening he electrified the crowd when he surprisingly appeared after the welcome fair.
"You are the light of the world!" He called in English, which triggered great jubilation.
encouraging developments for the Catholic Church
Long -term trends show a drastic decline in engagement and identification of young people with the established religions in western countries. But the Catholic Church could oppose this trend, since some current studies show an increased interest among generation z.
During the youth festival, Leo welcomed a flood of iPhones in the Peterskirche when he met social media influencers who were described as "digital missionaries" and tried to achieve new target groups.
"As the missionaries of the past who learned new languages and customs, the Catholic influencers today translate eternal truths into the visual, immediate language of the digital natives and encounter generation Z in their cultural context," said José de Urquidi, a former craft beer brewer.
"It is such a great experience to get in touch with people from different places in the world who want to live through the same and have the same experiences," said 17-year-old Milena Solano, who had traveled from the United States.
"Some people find it strange to be religious, and I find it refreshing to meet like -minded people and see that you are not alone," added Solano.
a modern Pope for the digital age
While Francis often flogged the newspapers, Leo is the first Pope to wear an Apple Watch and writes his own emails. He is the online messages and the social media world-including their pitfalls-more conscious than its predecessors.
"As you know, there are algorithms today who tell us what we think, what we think and who our friends should be. Our relationships are becoming so often confusing and sometimes tense," he said on Saturday to the youngsters.
a voice for the marginalized
In a time of uncertainty - politically and elsewhere - many young people hope that Leo will be a voice for the marginalized
Victoria Aguirre, 17, from the Pope's birthplace, Chicago, expressed the wish: "I would like to see that he pray for my family and for all immigrants and refugees in our country to ask for peace, refuge and security for them."
and while Damian Hernandez, 18, was waiting for the Pope's arrival, he emphasized the importance of Leo's message for the inclusion of migrants, especially in view of the current deportations in the United States.
Among the American pilgrims in Rome there was a special attachment to a Pope who speaks their language and culture. Some of the "Viva Il Papa" chanted in the crowd after Leo had addressed the crowd in English on Sunday morning, and the Pope was pleased when a piece of Chicago Deep Dish Pizza was presented to him on St. Peter's Square.
Before his choice, the Pope was a frequent visitor to one of her restaurants in Homewood, Illinois.
A new Pope on the global stage
From the relative anonymity of a Roman cardinal, he passed one of the most famous people in the world within a few hours. While most political leaders want to set big accents in their first 100 days, Leo seems to be happy to listen, analyze and wait.
This strategy could give him more authority within the church in order to promote reforms and act as a moral voice on the global stage.
"We are among the young people in Gaza, we are among the young people in Ukraine," said Leo at the end of the Sunday mass.
When the young people prepared themselves on their way home, he said to them: "My young brothers and sisters, you are the sign that another world is possible."
Kommentare (0)