Latest news with #CatholicUniversityofAmerica
Yahoo
13 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
School presidents celebrate the value of faith-based higher education
WASHINGTON — Nearly 2 million students attend faith-based colleges and universities, a fast-growing segment of American higher education that now has a new tool to share its story. Over 50 college and university presidents gathered Monday at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in the nation's capital and vigorously applauded after watching the first episode of a new BYUtv documentary series, 'Higher Ed: The Power of Faith-Inspired Learning in America." 'Faith-based institutions are the bedrock of American higher education, and we've not paid adequate attention to that role and to that responsibility,' said Ted Mitchell, president of the American Council on Education. ACE launched a Commission on Faith-based Colleges and Universities last year and Monday's event drew the presidents of dozens of commission member schools, including Notre Dame, Yeshiva University and Brigham Young University. The event also drew representatives of the U.S. Department of Education, the Faith Angle Forum, the American Enterprise Institute and the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, as well as reporters from The Washington Post and other media outlets. The new BYUtv documentary highlights students and presidents at three faith-based schools — Catholic University of America, Taylor University and BYU-Hawaii. 'This is a way of saying, 'Faith institutions have a contribution to make,'' said Elder Clark G. Gilbert, the commissioner of education for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Two additional episodes will be released in August and will include students from other commission schools. Those schools amount to 10% of the nation's colleges and universities and are excited to tell their stories, four presidents said during a panel discussion. Their stories need to be told even to people of faith, said Ryan Burge, the event's keynote speaker and a well-known analyst of data on faith and religion at Eastern Illinois University. Burge said it's a myth that college is a place where students lose their faith. 'College is not antithetical to religion,' he said. 'In some ways, it accelerates religion, enhances religion.' Data shows that the more educated Americans are, the more faithful they are, Burge said. He has found that the more Americans are educated and faithful, the more they flourish in numerous data sets. 'To summarize, education is good. Religion is good. Education plus religion is good,' he said. 'It causes trust. It makes us more loving of our neighbors. It increases our income. It increases all these outcomes.' In the documentary, Isabela Barboza said she decided to attend Catholic University of America because she decided that 'if religion is part of my life, it has to be part of my education and formation.' Taylor University student Hannah Wylie, whose parents attended Harvard and Brown, said she struggled before turning down her own Ivy League offer to attend the small evangelical school in Upland, Indiana. She is grateful she did. 'I wanted to be taught to think deeply about things I was doing,' she said in the documentary. 'I wanted to do things for a purpose.' Every college and university president in America is grappling with data that shows students facing a crisis of meaning in their lives. Rabbi Avi Berman, the president of Yeshiva University, took a moment of gratitude during the panel discussion because he found the documentary powerful. 'Young people are looking to university to find themselves and their values because they are not seeing answers to their deep, existential questions in the ephemeral choices being offered them in other institutions,' he said. Lipscomb University President Candice McQueen said she was grateful the documentary illustrated what colleges and universities like her Churches of Christ school in Nashville, Tennessee, bring to the table. The Rev. Robert Dowd, president of the University of Notre Dame, said his school takes a both-and approach to the holistic growth of its students. 'Notre Dame is a place where we educate the whole person, where both faith and reason are engaged, where matters of the heart as well as the life of the mind are very much valued,' he said. 'We want our students to grow not only in understanding, in knowledge and in technical skills but in wisdom, and we want them to grow in faith, hope and love.' Among those in attendance were BYU President Shane Reese, BYU-Idaho President Alvin Meredith, BYU-Pathway Worldwide President Brian Ashton and Ensign College President Bruce Kusch. BYU-Hawaii President John Kauwe wasn't at the Kennedy Center, but he was seen in the documentary riding a skateboard on the Laie, Hawaii, campus in white Nikes with a black swoosh and a splash of blue. 'What faith-based institutions offer is another type of belonging,' Kauwe says in the 30-minute film. The presidents met in working groups in the morning to learn about best practices around issues like hiring people who fit a school's mission and how to share and elevate stories about their faith-based schools. Elder Gilbert said the Commission on Faith-based Colleges and Universities creates a friendship for every school. 'There is connectivity for those who always feel like the odd man out,' he said.
Chicago Tribune
11-05-2025
- Politics
- Chicago Tribune
From left and right, US Catholics hope Pope Leo XIV fulfills hopes
NEW YORK — News that the global Catholic church would get its first-ever U.S.-born pope was welcomed by Catholics across the ideological spectrum in Pope Leo XIV 's homeland, raising the question of whether he might be able to ease some of the deep divisions within its ranks. From U.S. Catholics to the left of the ideological center, there is optimism that Leo will carry on Pope Francis' outreach to poor and marginalized people, including migrants, and provide a counterweight to policies of the Trump administration that distress them. To the right, there is hope the new pope will faithfully uphold Catholic doctrine, including opposition to abortion, same-sex marriage and women's ordination. One reason for optimism: The new pope has made clear — in his remarks and his choice of a motto — that unity within the global church will be a paramount priority. 'In these early days, he's still an empty vessel,' said Steven Millies, a public theology professor at the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago. 'Until we all get to know him better, we can pour our expectations into him.' Pope Leo XIV calls for peace in Ukraine and Gaza, and offers a Happy Mother's DayNotre Dame Provost John McGreevy, a historian of Catholicism, said he was 'completely stunned' after the papal announcement, having shared the conventional wisdom that a pope from the U.S. was a near-impossibility. But Leo 'is a global Catholic citizen,' McGreevy said, citing the pontiff's time in Peru, at the Vatican and leading an international religious order. 'Even though he's an American, and we're super proud that he's American, it's hard to think of someone more embedded in a lot of the global church,' he said. It's too soon to tell what Leo's relationship will be with his fellow American prelates and the broader U.S. Catholic Church, McGreevy cautioned. 'The early indications are that there'll be some similarities to Pope Francis,' he said – suggesting that differences with conservative U.S. bishops could continue. McGreevy said he expects some tension between the Vatican and the White House over immigration and climate change, two of Francis' key priorities that are likely to be reaffirmed by Leo. Chad Pecknold, a professor of systematic theology at the Catholic University of America, suggested that Francis either disliked or misunderstood the United States. 'With Leo XIV, it's clear he not only loves America, but he even loves the White Sox,' Pecknold said via email. 'That can only have a good effect, not only upon American Catholics, but also American bishops, and indeed, everyone. It's good to feel like the pope is on your side.' During the latter years of Francis' papacy, one of the most divisive issues among U.S. bishops was whether Catholic politicians who supported abortion rights — including then-President Joe Biden and then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi — should be barred from receiving Communion. Francis stressed he would not reject politicians who support abortion rights and Biden received Communion during a visit to Rome in 2021. San Francisco Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone, who barred Pelosi from receiving Communion in the archdiocese, described Leo as a 'bridge builder.' 'He will be a good force for unity in the church,' Cordileone told KPIX-TV in San Francisco. 'Even with differences of opinion and different ideas of strategy and so forth, we can have unity in the church.' How the new Pope Leo XIV's childhood church in Chicago fell into disrepair — and what may lie aheadU.S. Rep. Chris Smith, a New Jersey Republican and outspoken abortion opponent, took heart from a homily delivered early this year by Leo when he was Cardinal Robert Prevost. The passage cited by Smith: 'God's mercy calls us to protect every life, especially those society overlooks — the child yet to be born and the elderly nearing their journey's end — because each bears Christ's face.' Smith depicted this remark as 'underscoring the protection of the right to life as first among the many humanitarian responsibilities of the Church.' The interim president of Catholics for Choice, which supports abortion rights, acknowledged that Leo opposes abortion and said the group would send him letters from Catholics who disagree with that stance. 'We are praying that he will be a pope guided by a commitment to peace, justice, and inclusion,' said Chris Wimbush. 'The future of our church depends on greater inclusion and nuance on reproductive health decisions like abortion, contraception and IVF.' Francis, during his papacy, took major strides to give women more senior leadership positions in the church. But he upheld the ban on female priests and tamped down hopes that women could be ordained as deacons. Ellie Hidalgo of Discerning Deacons, which advocates for women deacons in the church, said she hopes Leo will support the church's ongoing review of women's participation in ministry. A years-long Vatican process left open the contentious question of whether women should be ordained as deacons. Hidalgo, who lives in Miami, heard then-Cardinal Prevost speak in February when she was in Rome for a celebration of deacons. Robert Prevost was 'the pride and joy of every priest and nun' at St. Mary's on Chicago's South Side'He was asking deacons to be humble in their service,' Hidalgo said. 'I could tell just from meeting him that that's something he really values himself … that you are to be of service and you're there in a posture of humility.' The U.S.-based Women's Ordination Conference, which advocates for women to be accepted as priests, welcomed the inclusive tone of Leo's initial remarks. 'His clear emphasis on bridge-building and dialogue offer WOC hope that Pope Leo XIV might be a leader who will also build bridges to Catholic women,' the group's statement said. It envisioned 'a long-overdue day when women are recognized as equals in Christ.' Francis, in many ways, saw Robert Prevost as a possible successor, assigning him to positions in Peru that bolstered his global resume and later calling him to the Vatican to oversee the influential office that vets bishop nominations. 'Francis was paying close attention to new U.S bishops,' said Millies, the public theology professor. 'Prevost has been Francis' man overseeing the careful selection of a different sort of bishop to fill important posts in the U.S.' Millies said the top leadership of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops — which was sometimes at odds with Francis — remains relatively conservative. But in the ranks of bishops below them, 'the change has already happened,' Millies said. 'They are men who are more pastoral than focused on doctrine. The election of Leo means we are firmly in a different era.' Traditionally, the taboo against a U.S. pope reflected reluctance to give the world's No. 1 superpower even more influence. That shouldn't be a concern with Leo, according to Austen Ivereigh, a British-based journalist and author of two books on the Francis papacy. 'If anybody thinks he (Leo) is going to take a different line from Francis on migration or climate change, they're in for a surprise,' Ivereigh said. 'Francis was putting into practice church teaching, and Leo will do the same.' There was muted reaction to Leo's election from Bishop Robert Strickland, who was ousted by Francis in 2023 from leadership of the Diocese of Tyler in Texas. Strickland had been a fierce critic of Francis and came to symbolize the polarization within the U.S. hierarchy. In social media posts after Leo assumed the papacy, Strickland expressed hope that he would faithfully uphold the sacred Scriptures and traditions known as the Deposit of Faith. 'With the heavy weight of the papacy now on his shoulders he needs our prayers,' Strickland added.
11-05-2025
- Politics
From the left and right, US Catholics hope new pope fulfills their hopes
NEW YORK -- News that the global Catholic church would get its first-ever U.S.-born pope was welcomed by Catholics across the ideological spectrum in Pope Leo XIV 's homeland, raising the question of whether he might be able to ease some of the deep divisions within its ranks. From U.S. Catholics to the left of the ideological center, there is optimism that Leo will carry on Pope Francis' outreach to poor and marginalized people, including migrants, and provide a counterweight to policies of the Trump administration that distress them. To the right, there is hope the new pope will faithfully uphold Catholic doctrine, including opposition to abortion, same-sex marriage and women's ordination. One reason for optimism: The new pope has made clear — in his remarks and his choice of a motto — that unity within the global church will be a paramount priority. 'In these early days, he's still an empty vessel,' said Steven Millies, a public theology professor at the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago. 'Until we all get to know him better, we can pour our expectations into him.' Notre Dame Provost John McGreevy, a historian of Catholicism, said he was 'completely stunned' after the papal announcement, having shared the conventional wisdom that a pope from the U.S. was a near-impossibility. But Leo 'is a global Catholic citizen,' McGreevy said, citing the pontiff's time in Peru, at the Vatican and leading an international religious order. 'Even though he's an American, and we're super proud that he's American, it's hard to think of someone more embedded in a lot of the global church,' he said. It's too soon to tell what Leo's relationship will be with his fellow American prelates and the broader U.S. Catholic Church, McGreevy cautioned. 'The early indications are that there'll be some similarities to Pope Francis,' he said – suggesting that differences with conservative U.S. bishops could continue. McGreevy said he expects some tension between the Vatican and the White House over immigration and climate change, two of Francis' key priorities that are likely to be reaffirmed by Leo. Chad Pecknold, a professor of systematic theology at the Catholic University of America, suggested that Francis either disliked or misunderstood the United States. 'With Leo XIV, it's clear he not only loves America, but he even loves the White Sox,' Pecknold said via email. 'That can only have a good effect, not only upon American Catholics, but also American bishops, and indeed, everyone. It's good to feel like the pope is on your side.' During the latter years of Francis' papacy, one of the most divisive issues among U.S. bishops was whether Catholic politicians who supported abortion rights — including then-President Joe Biden and then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi — should be barred from receiving Communion. Francis stressed he would not reject politicians who support abortion rights and Biden received Communion during a visit to Rome in 2021. San Francisco Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone, who barred Pelosi from receiving Communion in the archdiocese, described Leo as a "bridge builder." "He will be a good force for unity in the church,' Cordileone told KPIX-TV in San Francisco. 'Even with differences of opinion and different ideas of strategy and so forth, we can have unity in the church.' U.S. Rep. Chris Smith, a New Jersey Republican and outspoken abortion opponent, took heart from a homily delivered early this year by Leo when he was Cardinal Robert Prevost. The passage cited by Smith: 'God's mercy calls us to protect every life, especially those society overlooks — the child yet to be born and the elderly nearing their journey's end — because each bears Christ's face.' Smith depicted this remark as 'underscoring the protection of the right to life as first among the many humanitarian responsibilities of the Church.' The interim president of Catholics for Choice, which supports abortion rights, acknowledged that Leo opposes abortion and said the group would send him letters from Catholics who disagree with that stance. 'We are praying that he will be a pope guided by a commitment to peace, justice, and inclusion,' said Chris Wimbush. 'The future of our church depends on greater inclusion and nuance on reproductive health decisions like abortion, contraception and IVF." Francis, during his papacy, took major strides to give women more senior leadership positions in the church. But he upheld the ban on female priests and tamped down hopes that women could be ordained as deacons. Ellie Hidalgo of Discerning Deacons, which advocates for women deacons in the church, said she hopes Leo will support the church's ongoing review of women's participation in ministry. A years-long Vatican process left open the contentious question of whether women should be ordained as deacons. Hidalgo, who lives in Miami, heard then-Cardinal Prevost speak in February when she was in Rome for a celebration of deacons. 'He was asking deacons to be humble in their service,' Hidalgo said. "I could tell just from meeting him that that's something he really values himself ... that you are to be of service and you're there in a posture of humility.' The U.S.-based Women's Ordination Conference, which advocates for women to be accepted as priests, welcomed the inclusive tone of Leo's initial remarks. 'His clear emphasis on bridge-building and dialogue offer WOC hope that Pope Leo XIV might be a leader who will also build bridges to Catholic women,' the group's statement said. It envisioned 'a long-overdue day when women are recognized as equals in Christ.' Francis, in many ways, saw Robert Prevost as a possible successor, assigning him to positions in Peru that bolstered his global resume and later calling him to the Vatican to oversee the influential office that vets bishop nominations. 'Francis was paying close attention to new U.S bishops,' said Millies, the public theology professor. 'Prevost has been Francis' man overseeing the careful selection of a different sort of bishop to fill important posts in the U.S.' Millies said the top leadership of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops — which was sometimes at odds with Francis — remains relatively conservative. But in the ranks of bishops below them, 'the change has already happened,' Millies said. 'They are men who are more pastoral than focused on doctrine. The election of Leo means we are firmly in a different era.' Traditionally, the taboo against a U.S. pope reflected reluctance to give the world's No. 1 superpower even more influence. That shouldn't be a concern with Leo, according to Austen Ivereigh, a British-based journalist and author of two books on the Francis papacy. 'If anybody thinks he (Leo) is going to take a different line from Francis on migration or climate change, they're in for a surprise," Ivereigh said. "Francis was putting into practice church teaching, and Leo will do the same.' There was muted reaction to Leo's election from Bishop Robert Strickland, who was ousted by Francis in 2023 from leadership of the Diocese of Tyler in Texas. Strickland had been a fierce critic of Francis and came to symbolize the polarization within the U.S. hierarchy. In social media posts after Leo assumed the papacy, Strickland expressed hope that he would faithfully uphold the sacred Scriptures and traditions known as the Deposit of Faith. 'With the heavy weight of the papacy now on his shoulders he needs our prayers,' Strickland added. ___
San Francisco Chronicle
11-05-2025
- Politics
- San Francisco Chronicle
From the left and right, US Catholics hope new pope fulfills their hopes
NEW YORK (AP) — News that the global Catholic church would get its first-ever U.S.-born pope was welcomed by Catholics across the ideological spectrum in Pope Leo XIV 's homeland, raising the question of whether he might be able to ease some of the deep divisions within its ranks. From U.S. Catholics to the left of the ideological center, there is optimism that Leo will carry on Pope Francis' outreach to poor and marginalized people, including migrants, and provide a counterweight to policies of the Trump administration that distress them. To the right, there is hope the new pope will faithfully uphold Catholic doctrine, including opposition to abortion, same-sex marriage and women's ordination. One reason for optimism: The new pope has made clear — in his remarks and his choice of a motto — that unity within the global church will be a paramount priority. 'In these early days, he's still an empty vessel,' said Steven Millies, a public theology professor at the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago. 'Until we all get to know him better, we can pour our expectations into him.' Notre Dame Provost John McGreevy, a historian of Catholicism, said he was 'completely stunned' after the papal announcement, having shared the conventional wisdom that a pope from the U.S. was a near-impossibility. But Leo 'is a global Catholic citizen,' McGreevy said, citing the pontiff's time in Peru, at the Vatican and leading an international religious order. 'Even though he's an American, and we're super proud that he's American, it's hard to think of someone more embedded in a lot of the global church,' he said. What will Pope Leo's relation with U.S. Catholics be? It's too soon to tell what Leo's relationship will be with his fellow American prelates and the broader U.S. Catholic Church, McGreevy cautioned. 'The early indications are that there'll be some similarities to Pope Francis,' he said – suggesting that differences with conservative U.S. bishops could continue. McGreevy said he expects some tension between the Vatican and the White House over immigration and climate change, two of Francis' key priorities that are likely to be reaffirmed by Leo. Chad Pecknold, a professor of systematic theology at the Catholic University of America, suggested that Francis either disliked or misunderstood the United States. 'With Leo XIV, it's clear he not only loves America, but he even loves the White Sox,' Pecknold said via email. 'That can only have a good effect, not only upon American Catholics, but also American bishops, and indeed, everyone. It's good to feel like the pope is on your side.' During the latter years of Francis' papacy, one of the most divisive issues among U.S. bishops was whether Catholic politicians who supported abortion rights — including then-President Joe Biden and then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi — should be barred from receiving Communion. Francis stressed he would not reject politicians who support abortion rights and Biden received Communion during a visit to Rome in 2021. San Francisco Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone, who barred Pelosi from receiving Communion in the archdiocese, described Leo as a "bridge builder." "He will be a good force for unity in the church,' Cordileone told KPIX-TV in San Francisco. 'Even with differences of opinion and different ideas of strategy and so forth, we can have unity in the church.' U.S. Rep. Chris Smith, a New Jersey Republican and outspoken abortion opponent, took heart from a homily delivered early this year by Leo when he was Cardinal Robert Prevost. The passage cited by Smith: 'God's mercy calls us to protect every life, especially those society overlooks — the child yet to be born and the elderly nearing their journey's end — because each bears Christ's face.' Smith depicted this remark as 'underscoring the protection of the right to life as first among the many humanitarian responsibilities of the Church.' The interim president of Catholics for Choice, which supports abortion rights, acknowledged that Leo opposes abortion and said the group would send him letters from Catholics who disagree with that stance. 'We are praying that he will be a pope guided by a commitment to peace, justice, and inclusion,' said Chris Wimbush. 'The future of our church depends on greater inclusion and nuance on reproductive health decisions like abortion, contraception and IVF." Women and the church Francis, during his papacy, took major strides to give women more senior leadership positions in the church. But he upheld the ban on female priests and tamped down hopes that women could be ordained as deacons. Ellie Hidalgo of Discerning Deacons, which advocates for women deacons in the church, said she hopes Leo will support the church's ongoing review of women's participation in ministry. A years-long Vatican process left open the contentious question of whether women should be ordained as deacons. Hidalgo, who lives in Miami, heard then-Cardinal Prevost speak in February when she was in Rome for a celebration of deacons. 'He was asking deacons to be humble in their service,' Hidalgo said. "I could tell just from meeting him that that's something he really values himself ... that you are to be of service and you're there in a posture of humility.' The U.S.-based Women's Ordination Conference, which advocates for women to be accepted as priests, welcomed the inclusive tone of Leo's initial remarks. 'His clear emphasis on bridge-building and dialogue offer WOC hope that Pope Leo XIV might be a leader who will also build bridges to Catholic women,' the group's statement said. It envisioned 'a long-overdue day when women are recognized as equals in Christ.' Called on by Pope Francis Francis, in many ways, saw Robert Prevost as a possible successor, assigning him to positions in Peru that bolstered his global resume and later calling him to the Vatican to oversee the influential office that vets bishop nominations. 'Francis was paying close attention to new U.S bishops,' said Millies, the public theology professor. 'Prevost has been Francis' man overseeing the careful selection of a different sort of bishop to fill important posts in the U.S.' Millies said the top leadership of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops — which was sometimes at odds with Francis — remains relatively conservative. But in the ranks of bishops below them, 'the change has already happened,' Millies said. 'They are men who are more pastoral than focused on doctrine. The election of Leo means we are firmly in a different era.' Traditionally, the taboo against a U.S. pope reflected reluctance to give the world's No. 1 superpower even more influence. That shouldn't be a concern with Leo, according to Austen Ivereigh, a British-based journalist and author of two books on the Francis papacy. 'If anybody thinks he (Leo) is going to take a different line from Francis on migration or climate change, they're in for a surprise," Ivereigh said. "Francis was putting into practice church teaching, and Leo will do the same.' There was muted reaction to Leo's election from Bishop Robert Strickland, who was ousted by Francis in 2023 from leadership of the Diocese of Tyler in Texas. Strickland had been a fierce critic of Francis and came to symbolize the polarization within the U.S. hierarchy. In social media posts after Leo assumed the papacy, Strickland expressed hope that he would faithfully uphold the sacred Scriptures and traditions known as the Deposit of Faith. 'With the heavy weight of the papacy now on his shoulders he needs our prayers,' Strickland added. ___
Winnipeg Free Press
11-05-2025
- Politics
- Winnipeg Free Press
From the left and right, US Catholics hope new pope fulfills their hopes
NEW YORK (AP) — News that the global Catholic church would get its first-ever U.S.-born pope was welcomed by Catholics across the ideological spectrum in Pope Leo XIV 's homeland, raising the question of whether he might be able to ease some of the deep divisions within its ranks. From U.S. Catholics to the left of the ideological center, there is optimism that Leo will carry on Pope Francis' outreach to poor and marginalized people, including migrants, and provide a counterweight to policies of the Trump administration that distress them. To the right, there is hope the new pope will faithfully uphold Catholic doctrine, including opposition to abortion, same-sex marriage and women's ordination. One reason for optimism: The new pope has made clear — in his remarks and his choice of a motto — that unity within the global church will be a paramount priority. 'In these early days, he's still an empty vessel,' said Steven Millies, a public theology professor at the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago. 'Until we all get to know him better, we can pour our expectations into him.' Notre Dame Provost John McGreevy, a historian of Catholicism, said he was 'completely stunned' after the papal announcement, having shared the conventional wisdom that a pope from the U.S. was a near-impossibility. But Leo 'is a global Catholic citizen,' McGreevy said, citing the pontiff's time in Peru, at the Vatican and leading an international religious order. 'Even though he's an American, and we're super proud that he's American, it's hard to think of someone more embedded in a lot of the global church,' he said. What will Pope Leo's relation with U.S. Catholics be? It's too soon to tell what Leo's relationship will be with his fellow American prelates and the broader U.S. Catholic Church, McGreevy cautioned. 'The early indications are that there'll be some similarities to Pope Francis,' he said – suggesting that differences with conservative U.S. bishops could continue. McGreevy said he expects some tension between the Vatican and the White House over immigration and climate change, two of Francis' key priorities that are likely to be reaffirmed by Leo. Chad Pecknold, a professor of systematic theology at the Catholic University of America, suggested that Francis either disliked or misunderstood the United States. 'With Leo XIV, it's clear he not only loves America, but he even loves the White Sox,' Pecknold said via email. 'That can only have a good effect, not only upon American Catholics, but also American bishops, and indeed, everyone. It's good to feel like the pope is on your side.' During the latter years of Francis' papacy, one of the most divisive issues among U.S. bishops was whether Catholic politicians who supported abortion rights — including then-President Joe Biden and then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi — should be barred from receiving Communion. Francis stressed he would not reject politicians who support abortion rights and Biden received Communion during a visit to Rome in 2021. San Francisco Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone, who barred Pelosi from receiving Communion in the archdiocese, described Leo as a 'bridge builder.' 'He will be a good force for unity in the church,' Cordileone told KPIX-TV in San Francisco. 'Even with differences of opinion and different ideas of strategy and so forth, we can have unity in the church.' U.S. Rep. Chris Smith, a New Jersey Republican and outspoken abortion opponent, took heart from a homily delivered early this year by Leo when he was Cardinal Robert Prevost. The passage cited by Smith: 'God's mercy calls us to protect every life, especially those society overlooks — the child yet to be born and the elderly nearing their journey's end — because each bears Christ's face.' Smith depicted this remark as 'underscoring the protection of the right to life as first among the many humanitarian responsibilities of the Church.' The interim president of Catholics for Choice, which supports abortion rights, acknowledged that Leo opposes abortion and said the group would send him letters from Catholics who disagree with that stance. 'We are praying that he will be a pope guided by a commitment to peace, justice, and inclusion,' said Chris Wimbush. 'The future of our church depends on greater inclusion and nuance on reproductive health decisions like abortion, contraception and IVF.' Women and the church Francis, during his papacy, took major strides to give women more senior leadership positions in the church. But he upheld the ban on female priests and tamped down hopes that women could be ordained as deacons. Ellie Hidalgo of Discerning Deacons, which advocates for women deacons in the church, said she hopes Leo will support the church's ongoing review of women's participation in ministry. A years-long Vatican process left open the contentious question of whether women should be ordained as deacons. Hidalgo, who lives in Miami, heard then-Cardinal Prevost speak in February when she was in Rome for a celebration of deacons. 'He was asking deacons to be humble in their service,' Hidalgo said. 'I could tell just from meeting him that that's something he really values himself … that you are to be of service and you're there in a posture of humility.' The U.S.-based Women's Ordination Conference, which advocates for women to be accepted as priests, welcomed the inclusive tone of Leo's initial remarks. 'His clear emphasis on bridge-building and dialogue offer WOC hope that Pope Leo XIV might be a leader who will also build bridges to Catholic women,' the group's statement said. It envisioned 'a long-overdue day when women are recognized as equals in Christ.' Called on by Pope Francis Francis, in many ways, saw Robert Prevost as a possible successor, assigning him to positions in Peru that bolstered his global resume and later calling him to the Vatican to oversee the influential office that vets bishop nominations. 'Francis was paying close attention to new U.S bishops,' said Millies, the public theology professor. 'Prevost has been Francis' man overseeing the careful selection of a different sort of bishop to fill important posts in the U.S.' Millies said the top leadership of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops — which was sometimes at odds with Francis — remains relatively conservative. But in the ranks of bishops below them, 'the change has already happened,' Millies said. 'They are men who are more pastoral than focused on doctrine. The election of Leo means we are firmly in a different era.' Traditionally, the taboo against a U.S. pope reflected reluctance to give the world's No. 1 superpower even more influence. That shouldn't be a concern with Leo, according to Austen Ivereigh, a British-based journalist and author of two books on the Francis papacy. 'If anybody thinks he (Leo) is going to take a different line from Francis on migration or climate change, they're in for a surprise,' Ivereigh said. 'Francis was putting into practice church teaching, and Leo will do the same.' There was muted reaction to Leo's election from Bishop Robert Strickland, who was ousted by Francis in 2023 from leadership of the Diocese of Tyler in Texas. Strickland had been a fierce critic of Francis and came to symbolize the polarization within the U.S. hierarchy. In social media posts after Leo assumed the papacy, Strickland expressed hope that he would faithfully uphold the sacred Scriptures and traditions known as the Deposit of Faith. Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. 'With the heavy weight of the papacy now on his shoulders he needs our prayers,' Strickland added. ___ Stanley reported from Washington. Associated Press journalists Nicole Winfield in Rome and Peter Smith in Pittsburgh contributed to this report. ___ Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP's collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.
