Michele Oliveira – In deciding to spend a few days on vacation, between July and August, in Castel Gandolfo, the Vatican’s summer residence, Pope Leo 14 issued two signs.
The first was to resume another tradition that had been set aside by Pope Francis, indicating that his pontificate will follow a less disruptive line than the predecessor.
The second was that the period would be used for reflections, in preparation for the first important ads since taking over, just over four months ago.
For the coming weeks, the publication of an apostolic exhortation, the first high level document of this papacy, confirmations and appointments for positions in the Roman Curia, the Vatican’s administrative arm, and the disclosure of what will be the first international destination of Leo 14.
Already this Sunday (14), when Robert Prevost turns 70, there should be some results of his holiday period, with the release of excerpts from the first interview granted by him, in Castel Gandolfo.
The material is part of the biography written by journalist Elise Ann Allen, scheduled to be published this week in Peru.
Also in September should come out the first apostolic exhortation of Leo 14. written by the Pope as a way of guiding Catholics, the text must be dedicated to the poor and may indicate priorities of the papacy.
According to Reuters, the title will be “dilexit te” (he loved you in Latin) direct reference to Francisco’s last encyclical (more important than an exhortation), “dilexit nos” (he loved us).
“Let’s start to understand this pontificate with the first apostolic exhortation. So far it has been very concentrated in peace, but another part will be unveiled, which is social justice,” he says
Giacomo Galeazzi, Vaticanist of the newspaper La Stampa. The inequality between the global North and South and the eviction among young people may be among the topics.
Beyond the insistent disapproval of what happens in Ukraine and the Gaza Strip, childhood and youth have had special attention from the Pope.
He mentions these groups often and had a prominent participation in the youth jubilee, which brought together thousands of people in August. In June, he found young dependents recovering.
In the coming months, Leo 14 has some nominations waiting for him in Rome. One of them is the name of the next mayor of the dicker for the bishops, since it has been vacant since its election in May.
The confirmation of Cardinal Pietro Parolin as Secretary of State, a most important place in Curia, is given for certain, but doubts remain about the economic dikings.
Another announcement is expected is what will be the first international trip. The Pope himself indicated that he would like to go to Turkey later this year to celebrate the 1700th anniversary of the first Ecumenical Council of Niceia, possibly in November.
The trip is considered an occasion to reinforce the Vatican’s dialogue with orthodox Catholicism, at a time when Russia and Ukraine, two orthodox Christian countries, are at war.
For next year, Vaticanists bet on a visit to South America, with a pass through Peru, where Leo 14 lived for two decades.
Expectations around short -term news increases in the face of Prevost’s profile. More reserved and moderate than Francis in his way of communicating has been considered enigmatic.
“He is seeking to discern on the issues ahead. He has not made important decisions and is very prudent,” says Galeazzi. “It’s been another orchestra director than a soloist. Francisco was another soloist, genius but soloist.”
An example is the effort to show balance between gestures to conservatives and progressives. Recently, within ten days, the Pope received American cardinal Raymond Burke, key figure of Catholic conservatism in the US, and Father James Martin, also close to the LGBTQia+community.
“He is gaining the confidence of all, whether of progressive, conservatives. Then, when he will make fundamental decisions, he will surely disconnect one side,” says the Vaticanist.
