Franciscan Friars See a Kindred Spirit in Pope Leo 

“The election of the new Pope is still sinking in, but the first signs point to a strong affirmation by the College of Cardinals of the priorities set by Pope Francis,” said Bro. William Short, OFM, who was at St. Peter’s Square when it all unfolded. “Their relatively quick agreement on a candidate on the second day of the Conclave is a healthy sign of unity at the highest levels of leadership in the Church. We can expect that this will be a papacy dedicated to a Church of the poor and for the poor.” 

“My excitement isn’t about his nationality. What moves me far more is that Pope Leo XIV has lived much of his life as a missionary,” said Fr. Mike Johnson, OFM, who served in Peru and Bolivia. “I know how deeply that experience shapes you. The people I met, the communities that welcomed me—they formed me. They gave me a heart for the poor and for those on the margins. They taught me to listen differently, to walk more slowly, and to see Christ more clearly in unexpected places.   

“The new Pope gives me such hope. Pope Leo XIV spoke right away about the Church as a missionary Church—a Church that goes out. A Church grounded in Scripture and the Eucharist, yes, but not one that stays still. The Word and the Sacrament are both our nourishment and our challenge. They send us into the world—to be God’s heart and hands, to build bridges, to begin dialogues, and to have the kinds of hard conversations that move us closer to the Kingdom.” 

He also sees significance in the selection of the name Leo. It’s a symbol, said Fr. Mike, of “a prophetic call to defend the dignity of work and the rights of workers. In a world where so many people work so hard and still feel left behind, where income inequality underlies so many of the divisions and injustices we face, his legacy is more relevant than ever. By choosing the name Leo, our new Pope reminds us that Catholic social teaching isn’t a side concern—it’s core to the Gospel.” 

He added: “As a Franciscan, I pray we continue to carry that same spirit: to walk with the poor, to speak for the forgotten, to care for creation, and to make room for all at the table. That the one now leading us does so from that same place of encounter, mission, and justice—it’s a grace for the Church and a call to each of us.” 

Join us in supporting our new Pope by helping the most frail and vulnerable among us — take the Franciscan Challenge!  

Funds raised by the Challenge will bring food, clothing, and basic life necessities to the over 5 Million people who come to the friars each year for help.  

“No one is exempted from striving to ensure respect for the dignity of every person, especially the most frail and vulnerable…” 

-Pope Leo XIV 

You can always take the Franciscan Challenge at https://challenge.franciscanfriarscharities.org