Encountering Pope Leo XIV: Baptist Reflections on the Beginning of a Pontificate
By Steven R. Harmon (Nurturing Faith)
Be honest. Even the least liturgical Baptist among us must confess to a certain curiosity about the College of Cardinals and fascination with the process of selecting a new pope.
Steven Harmon, a historical theologian with Texas Baptist roots, helps unpack that process for non-Catholics and pull back the curtain—at least a little bit—on the Conclave. In the process, he offers insights into the first American-born pontiff, Pope Leo XIV.
Harmon, who has represented the Baptist World Alliance in dialogue with both the Catholic Church and the Anglican Communion, journeyed to Rome to report and reflect on the election of a successor to Pope Francis.
In an engaging and accessible style, Harmon offers a day-by-day recounting of his time at the Holy See Press Office. Along the way, he provides non-Catholics a useful introduction to relatively unfamiliar concepts such as synodality—a major emphasis introduced by Pope Francis on listening to God’s voice by hearing all voices within the church. On a practical level, he also helps identify the various religious orders and decipher the abbreviations that identify them.
In dramatic fashion, Harmon recalls the second day of the Conclave, when puffs of white smoke rising from the chimney atop the Sistine Chapel signaled to onlookers the College of Cardinals had reached a decision. Cardinal Robert Prevost—a dual citizen of the United States and Peru—was the choice, and he assumed the title Pope Leo XIV.
Harmon explains the likely historical significance of the title the new pope selected, given the role of Pope Leo XIII as originator of modern Catholic social teaching. He provides first impressions of Pope Leo XIV, along with reflections on the pope’s early public addresses and admiration for his talent as a communicator. As a sign of the times, he also notes the fake memes that proliferated on social media, attributing spurious quotes to the new pope—usually along political lines.
Encountering Pope Leo XIV builds bridges of understanding. In divisive days, Baptist and other non-Catholic readers would benefit from the insights it offers.
Ken Camp, managing editor
Baptist Standard
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