Dear Friends,
The world is watching after the historic election of Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost as Pope Leo XIV, the first American-born pontiff to lead the Roman Catholic Church.
His selection is a defining moment in the Church’s history, one that carries the potential to reshape Catholic leadership and influence the interfaith landscape worldwide. His election comes at a time when the world confronts division, conflict, and religious intolerance. This appointment invites renewed and necessary dialogue around inclusion, global equity, and pastoral care.
Prevost is the first pope to come from the Augustinian order, a tradition centered on humility, service, and community. His extensive missionary and pastoral work in Peru, where he served vulnerable communities and later became the Bishop of Chiclayo, seemingly informs his commitment to social justice, compassion, and global solidarity.
Pope Leo XIV is showing promising commitment to reaffirming dialogue between the Church and other religious communities. In a letter to Rabbi Noam Marans of the American Jewish Committee, he expressed a desire to “continue and strengthen the Church’s dialogue and cooperation with the Jewish people in the spirit of the Second Vatican Council’s declaration Nostra Aetate.” His message comes as we approach the 60th anniversary of Nostra Aetate, a landmark document that reshaped Catholic relations with non-Christian religions. The convergence of a new Pope and the anniversary of Nostra Aetate offers a meaningful moment to reflect on the progress of interreligious understanding and renew our commitment to deepening relationships among all faiths.
In his first Sunday address from the Vatican, Pope Leo XIV delivered a powerful appeal to world leaders: “No more war.” Speaking to those gathered in St. Peter’s Square, the newly elected pontiff called for a “lasting peace” in Ukraine, a “ceasefire” in Gaza and for “all hostages to be freed”. He also welcomed the recent agreement between India and Pakistan to end their hostilities. Newly elected Pope Leo XIV has offered to mediate peace talks between Ukraine and Russia, signaling the Vatican’s renewed diplomatic engagement in the conflict.
The implications of this papacy for the religiously diverse world are profound. As societies grapple with questions of pluralism, coexistence, and inclusion, the moral and spiritual leadership of the Catholic Church remains deeply influential. Pope Leo XIV’s election offers an opportunity for renewed interfaith engagement, collaborative action on shared challenges, and a reimagining of how religious institutions can foster belonging across difference.
At Tanenbaum, we will continue to observe with curiosity and hope as Pope Leo XIV begins his papal journey. We feel encouraged by the possibilities his leadership represents for interreligious understanding, a commitment to nonviolence, and the recognition of human dignity.
References:
- Reyes, R., & Oliveira, A. (2025, May 8). Who is Robert Prevost? Meet Leo XIV, the first American pope. New York Post. https://nypost.com/world-news/who-is-robert-prevost-pope-leo-xiv/?utm_source
- Pullella, P. (2025, May 13). New Pope Leo tells Jews he wants to strengthen dialogue. Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/world/new-pope-leo-tells-jews-he-wants-strengthen-dialogue-2025-05-13/
- Lamche, A. (2025, May 11). Pope Leo gives first Sunday address. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0r18dp9lxxo