The U.S.-Born Pope Is Changing U.S. Catholicism

Pope Leo XIV is shifting the direction of the Catholic Church in the United States by focusing on immigration, economic justice, war and peace, and the moral challenges of artificial intelligence, according to E. J. Dionne Jr. for Commonweal. The pope is supporting bishops appointed by Pope Francis to change the priorities of the American Church and is giving cardinals more power in governance.

This shift has empowered progressive leaders such as Cardinals Robert McElroy, Blase Cupich, and Joseph Tobin to speak out on topics like immigration and the Iran War. Dionne Jr. reports that these voices are changing public perceptions of Church priorities. The pope's moderate stance has become particularly relevant due to the rise of Christian nationalism and the immigration policies of President Trump's second term. While some lay Catholics disagree with these positions, immigration remains a topic that largely unites the different factions of the U.S. bishops' conference.