changes, such as women’s ordination and the blessing of same-sex unions. On the traditional Latin Mass — a


key flashpoint of controversy during Francis’ pontificate — Leo has shown more openness to it than his predeces- sor, who allowed limited exceptions to Traditionis Custodes, a highly con- tentious 2021 papal decree restricting its use. He also gave permission for Car-


dinal Burke to celebrate the pre-1970 Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica. But overall, he hasn’t engaged the


topic, enabling some bishops, espe- cially in the United States, to be overly harsh in their restrictions. Some see his reserved stance as a prudent way to take the heat out of the situation; others view it as an abnegation of leadership responsibilities. Similarly, Leo XIV has so far resisted


from directly weighing into what could become the most significant challenge of his pontificate: how to handle the So- ciety of St. Pius X (SSPX), a breakaway traditionalist priestly fraternity that opposes some teachings of the Second Vatican Council. They plan to consecrate new bish-


ops in July against the pope’s wishes, possibly leading to the automatic ex- communication of the new bishops and their consecrator. Leo has left this quandary to his


head of doctrine, Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernández, to deal with on his behalf rather than meet with them himself. Fernández, too, requires action, say


some critics. Appointed by Francis, the Argentinian cardinal, who holds the prestigious role as head of doctrine, is widely seen as unsuited due to his het- erodox leanings and inappropriate lit- erature he wrote some decades ago. Many would therefore like to see


him replaced, along with a few other cardinals from the Francis era who, some critics say, are not suitable for their leadership roles. On these and other key issues of gov-


ernance and teaching, a common view is that he is merely taking his time, per- haps waiting a year since assuming of-


fice to take key decisions. Others believe he is being true to


character as someone who instinctively takes a “safe middle course.” But the longer many of these burn-


ing issues remain unaddressed, the more a leadership vacuum is forming. The consensus, however, is that Pope


Leo is a man of paradoxical strengths: warm-hearted, with a genuine sense of humor, yet remarkably guarded and controlled in what he says. He speaks with great caution and re-


serve, often choosing two words where others would use four, and many who meet him come away with the impres- sion that he agreed with them, even though he has revealed very little of his own mind, or not knowing where he truly stands. “Whether his quiet, corner-


of-the-room style reflects mere cau- tion, a deliberate decision to float above certain conflicts, or a hidden long-term plan is still unclear,” said one Vatican insider. “But for now, he appears as a funda-


mentally good man for a difficult age, unlikely to produce fireworks yet equal- ly unlikely to do anything wild.” Indeed, his governance moves at a


glacial pace. Leo XIV avoids dramatic purges or


spectacular appointments, and pre- fers small, incremental steps to head- line-grabbing gestures. His choices of bishops can be mixed


in quality, but they are rarely reckless. At the same time, he is a man of deep


faith, profoundly Marian and thor- oughly Catholic, even if somewhat lim- ited theologically. He was widely criti- cized, for instance, for signing off on a document that diminished the role of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Looking to his second year, the main


pressing challenge facing Leo will be the church’s inner conflicts. His temperament is well suited to


handling such confrontations, but whether he will find the courage to take the decisive steps needed to resolve them remains — for now at least — as enigmatic and inscrutable as the char- acter of Leo XIV himself.


MAY 2026 | NEWSMAX 67


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