Pope Leo XIV: How his views compare to those of Pope Francis

CHICAGO -- Cardinal Robert Prevost was chosen arsenic Pope Francis' successor connected Thursday, taking the papal sanction Leo XIV. The satellite is wondering however the first American pope compares to his predecessor.

In his archetypal nationalist remarks, Pope Leo XIV called for unity.

"We person to beryllium a religion that works unneurotic to physique bridges and to support our arms open, similar this precise piazza, welcoming," helium said.

The 69-year-old Chicago native, known for being reserved and private, brings a antithetic benignant to the papacy compared to his predecessor, according to Time. While Francis was celebrated for his outgoing property and spontaneous interactions with crowds, Leo is described by those who cognize him arsenic much cautious and measured.

RELATED: Destined to beryllium pope: Brother says Pope Leo XIV ever wanted to beryllium a priest

Before becoming pope, Leo played a cardinal relation successful the church, starring Francis' squad that chose caller bishops. He made past by adding 3 women to the radical that recommends bishop appointments to the pope -- a large alteration successful religion tradition, according to the Associated Press.

Many Catholics are watching intimately to spot however Leo volition grip important issues that Francis championed during his clip arsenic pope. Francis took progressive positions connected galore issues, including allowing Catholic priests to bless same-sex couples successful December 2023 and powerfully defending immigrants' rights.

"I deliberation it volition beryllium absorbing having an American dependable that is not that doesn't person to respond to Washington," Loyola University Chicago pupil Matthew Battaglia said.

The opposition betwixt the 2 leaders' styles is already clear. While Francis was known for blessing babies and engaging with crowds until his decease past month, Leo reportedly takes a much reserved approach.

"He does not person excesses," the Rev. Michele Falcone told the New York Times astir Leo. "Blessing babies, yes. Taking them successful his arms, no."

"They person this thought that you person to interaction people's hearts earlier you interaction their minds, and earlier you commencement talking astir doctrine," DePaul University prof of Catholic studies Bill Cavanugh said.

LGBTQ+ issues and relation of women successful the church

Leo's past statements suggest helium whitethorn instrumentality antithetic positions connected immoderate societal issues than his predecessor did.

In 2012, helium expressed interest astir Western media promoting what helium called "beliefs and practices that are astatine likelihood with the gospel," including same-sex relationships, according to the Times. As a bishop successful Peru from 2015 done 2023, helium opposed teaching sex studies successful schools, stating that "gender ideology is confusing, due to the fact that it seeks to make genders that don't exist."

That appears to people a departure from Francis's much welcoming attack to LGBTQ+ issues. Francis famously asked, "Who americium I to judge?" erstwhile discussing cheery clerics, and made headlines with his determination to let same-sex mates blessings.

In different areas, similar women serving successful enactment roles successful the Catholic Church, Leo has taken a much progressive stance.

In a 2023 interrogation with Vatican Media, Leo XIV highlighted his acquisition with having women successful religion leadership, peculiarly discussing the 3 women appointed to assistance prime bishops -- a betterment helium oversaw nether Francis.

"Their sentiment introduces different position and becomes an important publication to the process," helium told Vatican Media, emphasizing that their roles correspond "real, genuine, and meaningful participation."

Prevost took connected the named Leo successful a motion to Leo XIII, who was known for his outspoken defence of the rights of moving radical to a surviving wage.

"Pope Leo, I deliberation understands the planetary quality of Catholicism, but besides the diverseness successful the world," Father Stan E Lu. "So I deliberation he's your emblematic DEI Pope. So those who deliberation DEI is... a large problem, they are successful for a existent treat."

Immigration and attraction of migrants

During his clip successful Peru, Leo earned praise for supporting Venezuelan immigrants, the Times reported.

Francis had been peculiarly vocal connected this issue, precocious condemning the Trump administration's deportations of migrants successful the U.S. aft the president's 2nd inauguration, calling it a "major crisis."

"The caller pope is committed to the dignity of each quality person, the thought of encountering and gathering bridges crossed nations, the thought that much radical are connected the determination contiguous than ever earlier successful quality history," Loyola University Chicago prof Mike Canaris said. "And truthful a planetary religion has to respond to that."

In an interrogation with ABC News connected Thursday, Pope Leo's member John Prevost cited his brother's missionary work.

"I deliberation due to the fact that helium was trained successful missionary enactment successful South America for truthful galore years, I deliberation helium volition beryllium looking retired for the disenfranchised," John Prevost said. "He volition beryllium looking retired for the poor. He volition beryllium looking retired for those who don't person a voice."John Prevost besides said migration is an important contented for his brother.

"I deliberation due to the fact that the mode our state is going, I don't deliberation helium needfully volition ever hold [with] what's happening. I deliberation a large happening for him is migration and is it close -- what's going on? I deliberation that volition beryllium a situation for him, due to the fact that I deliberation he'll accidental thing astir it, too."

Church intersexual maltreatment scandals

Questions person emerged astir Leo XIV's handling of maltreatment cases successful some the U.S. and Peru. In Chicago, activists raised concerns astir his relation successful a lawsuit involving a monastery placement, the Times reported.

When discussing the ongoing situation of intersexual maltreatment successful the church, Leo acknowledged determination is "still overmuch to learn" successful handling these cases. He stressed the value of supporting maltreatment victims, saying "silence is not the solution" and emphasized the request for transparency.

"We indispensable beryllium transparent and honest, we indispensable travel and assistance the victims, due to the fact that different their wounds volition ne'er heal," Leo told Vatican Media successful 2023, adding that taste differences often impact however maltreatment cases are handled successful antithetic regions.

The caller pope's much caller comments bespeak helium plans to proceed addressing the maltreatment situation that has plagued the church, portion maintaining the reforms started nether Francis' leadership, though with his characteristically much measured approach.

Leadership style

Those who cognize Robert Prevost earlier helium became Pope Leo XIV picture his connection benignant arsenic much measured than Francis', the Times reported.

"Where Francis mightiness instantly talk his mind, Cardinal Prevost holds himself backmost a bit," the Rev. Moral Antón, who succeeded Leo arsenic person of the Augustinian order, said.

Despite these differences successful style, immoderate expect Leo to support definite aspects of Francis' legacy.

The Rev. Mark R. Francis, who knew Leo XIV arsenic a classmate, told the Times helium believes the caller pope volition proceed Francis's signifier of including regular Catholics successful religion discussions.

"I cognize that Bob believes that everybody has a close and a work to explicit themselves successful the church," helium said.

Young believers are hopeful the caller pope volition bring a revitalization for Generation Z successful the church.

"We are successful a situation of religion with among the young Catholic community, and I judge that having a young, energetic pope specified arsenic Pope Leo volition springiness archetypal of each caller attraction to the Catholic Church," Battaglia said.

ABC7 Chicago's Jasmine Minor contributed to this report.