Robert Francis Prevost Is 'Centrist' Who Opposes Ordination of Women
The first American Pope, Leo XIV, has spoken about the role of women in the Catholic Church.
In an interview with Vatican News in 2023, the Chicago-born Robert Francis Prevost weighed in on some controversial topics. Among them: The role of women.
Prevost was named Pope by the conclave of cardinals on May 8, 2025, Vatican News confirmed. That has many people eager to learn more about his views.
According to GBN, "Ideologically, Prevost occupies a centrist position within the church hierarchy."
GBN reported that Prevost is "viewed as a progressive" on social issues, especially dealing with "his embrace of marginalized groups." He "maintains conservative positions on certain matters of church doctrine," that site reported, including opposing "the ordination of women as deacons."
Prevost has also shared posts critical of U.S. immigration policies on Twitter (now X).
CBS News also described his opinions on women in the church, writing, "The Illinois native opposes ordaining women as deacons, for instance, so on that point he's seen as conservative on church doctrine."
"One of the novelties the Pope has introduced was to appoint three women among the members of the Dicastery for Bishops. What can you say about their contribution?" Vatican News asked Prevost at the time, referring to the now-deceased Pope Francis.
"On several occasions, we have seen that their point of view is an enrichment. Two are religious and one is a laywoman, and often their perspective coincides perfectly with what the other members of the dicastery say; while at other times, their opinion introduces another perspective and becomes an important contribution to the process," Prevost responded, according to Vatican News.
"I think their appointment is more than just a gesture on the part of the Pope to say that there are now women here, too. There is a real, genuine, and meaningful participation that they offer at our meetings when we discuss the dossiers of candidates," he added.
Adding the three women to the "voting bloc that decides which bishop nominations to forward to the Pope" was considered Francis's "most revolutionary" reform, and Prevost presided over it, GBN reported.
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