On the First Anniversary of the Pontificate

As I write this (8 May 2026), the Church is celebrating the First Anniversary of the election of the Holy Father Leo XIV to the See of Peter. I can still remember the excitement and joy I felt a year ago when I was in our TV room with other priests and brothers of the community waiting for that joyful Habemus papam declared by the Cardinal protodeacon (listen here for our first impressions episode).

One year on, the Supreme Pontiff is quietly repairing divisions and wounds–a move that media outlets do not like since they are accustomed to being pampered with headlines and misquotable quotes, but is also not liked by some loud traditionalists who can only sit quiet if the Pope kisses their feet.

So, in honor of these 12 months of the Pope’s reign, let us reflect upon the quiet changes and careful steps of the 266th Successor of Saint Peter (267th Pope).

Genuine humility

A few days before the Conclave, a Peruvian archbishop stayed with us in the community for a few days. We asked him who he thinks will be elected. Like a prophecy, he said, “I am confident that it will be Prevost. He’s American, but he served many years in Peru”. The same archbishop was co-consecrator in the episcopal consecration of then Bishop Robert Prevost.

For many traditional Catholics such as myself (as opposed to “traditionalists” who view Tradition akin to an ideology), the moment when the Pope goes out in the loggia for the very first time was a pivotal moment. Some might think of it as insignificant, but the question of whether he will follow the “new tradition” of Pope Francis of not wearing the mozzetta or will he follow in humility centuries of tradition is a big question.

I have to be honest, just like one priest said in private, “The moment I saw him with the mozzetta, I loved him already.”

The question at hand here is not just the “fashion sense” of the Popes, rather the way humility is being presented and practiced. The media had obsessed itself with the comparison of Pope Francis and Pope Benedict XVI because of their choice of dress, accusing the latter of pomp and without saying it directly, insinuates that the great theologian of the modern world is anti-poor or “backward” while Pope Francis was the “people’s Pope” just because he did not wear the mozzetta.

But, that is not the point.

Pope Francis’ choice of how he presented himself (the way he dressed, the way spoke, the way he governed) reflects his own understanding of the Petrine ministry as a personal ministry characterized by his witty language and popular charisma.

On the other hand, Pope Leo XIV’s choice of wearing the mozzetta, reviving the coat of arms in the fascia, and other small acts of “returning” to normal also reflects his understanding of the Petrine ministry as a ministry of the Church not characterized by his own personality but rather enriched by it.

Both are humble acts. The “revival” of these small traditions is not a “betrayal” of Francis’ pontificate as some disenfranchised journalists and pseudo-theologians would say. Rather, it is a testament to Pope Leo XIV’s consciousness of his Office as something he received from the Church in the service of the Lord rather than a personal style.

Quiet strides, giant leaps

While some traditional Catholics were joyful of these actions, some more radical, or at least the more skeptical ones, traditionalists are saying that the Pope is not doing enough. I can understand some who are genuinely just traumatized by years of apparent disgust and marginalization shown to them by the “new Roman establishment”. But, one should also take care not to fall into the temptation of cryptosedevacantism, that is, when you say you are in communion with the Pope because you acknowledge him, but treat him as the anti-Christ. 

We are still in the first year of this pontificate, so expecting things to just magically change overnight is actually problematic. The Church is not democratic state where the politician must enact his policies immediately just so he does not disenfranchise his voters. No. The Church is Mater et Magistra, Mother and Teacher who contemplates and discerns first every action and decision.

This is best seen in how the Pope is dealing with things. He discerns and then acts quietly, little by little.

Maybe we have been too accustomed to Pope Francis’ spontaneity or maybe some  “traditionalists” may unconsciously have become modernists in the sense that they want things immediately, but that is not how Pope Leo XIV works.

Yes, it would be good if tomorrow morning Traditiones custodes is lifted since it caused, and is still causing, deep wounds in the Church. Yes, it would be good and courageous if next week the entire German episcopacy is excommunicated because of their obstinacy in forcing their own political agenda in the doctrine of the Church. Yes, it would be ideal if all the “Old guards” are dismissed tomorrow and replaced by competent and orthodox bishops.

But, that will not be Catholic. That is Marxist, almost dictatorial “reform.” We’ve already seen it already how changing things without discernment and doing things rapidly has damaged the Church. In fact, we are still suffering from its after-shocks.

The Catholic way is a reform of the reform that is organic, pedagogical, systematic, discerned. We can already see it in the Pope’s small actions mostly not reported in the news.

For example, the Curia and the College of Cardinals are once again entrusted with the assistance of the Pope in matters of governance of the Church. The cartel of the “C9” cardinals is now a forgotten mafia. There are changes in the different Roman Dicasteries, albeit only in the plantilla level and not yet in the prefectural level, and in the Pontifical Household.

For my traditional friends, give the Holy Father time and remember that in the Catholic world time is precious and as such moves solemnly unlike in the modern world.

The challenge of AI for humanity

As we celebrate the First Anniversary of the Pontificate of Pope Leo XIV, we are also waiting for the publication of his first encyclical rumored to be titled Magnifica humanitas (Magnificent humanity) and to be published this coming 15th of May 2026.

This will be very important since the first encyclical of a Pope can be said to be a sort of “pontifical agenda” of the pontificate. The Pope had already published Apostolic exhortations and other juridical and pastoral letters, but this Encyclical Letter is important as we can see here Pope Leo XIV’s “project for the Church.”

It is said to focus on theological anthropology, that is the place of man as Imago Dei, via-à-vis the challenges that Artificial Intelligence pose and will continue to pose to humanity. In this regard, commentators are comparing it already to how monumental Leo XIII’s Rerum novarum was as the Church’s response to the social challenge of the time which is the threat of Communism and Capitalism.

In preparation to this Encyclical, the Roman Dicasteries of the Doctrine of the Faith and of Culture and Education published in 2025, under the pontificate of Pope Francis, the Doctrinal note Antiqua et nova (Note about  the relationship between Artificial Intelligence and Human Intelligence). More recently, the International Theological Commission published on 4 March 2026, the document Quo vadis, humanitas? (Christian anthropology vis-à-vis the future challenges to humanity).

We are all aware of the philosophical and ethical challenges of AI and also its supposed benefits to humanity. We’ve even recorded an episode and published our own “AI responsibility” article here.

It is, therefore, important to see how the Church, shepherded by the Pope, will lead us in this new page in human history’s book.

A Shepherd, not a Politician

As the world saw a very public spat between the Pope and the US President (mostly attacks from the President) after the US/Israel-Iran War of 2026, the Pope said a fundamental reality that reflects the understanding of the Petrine ministry: “I am not a politician, I speak of the Gospel.”

The sad reality is that without wanting to himself, Pope Francis was used by political and mediatic forces for their own agenda. That is not something new. Since becoming politically independent as the Western Roman Empire fell and the barbaric kingdoms of Europe emerged, the Holy See has become both the spiritual seat of Christianity and another political player in the chessboard of Europe.

However, this changed when the Kingdom of Italy invaded Rome in 1870 and the Lateran Treaty was signed between the Holy See and the Kingdom in 1929. The Pope, while still technically a Sovereign Prince who exercises temporal power, is now free of the shackles of temporal politics.

This, however, should not be interpreted as if the Church should no longer comment on socio-political affairs. In fact, it makes her comments more potent as she now stands not as a player with vested interest, but a Mother that guides her children.

We remember here the theory of the Two Swords. Now that the Pope is no longer another politician in the chessboard, the Spiritual Sword of the Church can now be wielded better to guide the conscience of those who wield the Temporal Sword of Kings. 

This is why we should be on guard from ideological appropriation of the Pope and the Church. Both the Left and the Right know that “having the Pope on their side” is a political plus. That is why Pope Leo’s affirmation that he is not a politician is important. He is neither conservative nor liberal, he is a successor of the Apostles whose mission is simply to proclaim the Gospel to all nations (cf. Mk 16:15).

A hope for the future

We are still in the first year of this pontificate. Many things will happen. The Pope will have to face many challenges along the way.

The wounds of division and politicization in the Church are still fresh and hurting. Some Catholics are still drinking the manna of hatred of the Other (the “traditionalist”, the “liberal-modernist”, the “conservative” and other such simple categorizations). 

We may be tempted by the modern desire for instant changes and as such criticize Pope Leo XIV’s apparent “slowness”.

The World will be facing more and more challenges from wars, political greed, ideological machinations, technological dilemmas.

As Catholics, we have to pray steadfastly for the Pope so he may guide us in these trying times. And, very important: we must not lose hope that even if times are bleak, the Holy Spirit guides and protects the Church and will never fail us.