Papal Diplomacy: How the 2025 Conclave Election of Pope Leo XIV Shapes the Future of the Vatican’s International Relations By: Julian Moses

The May 8, 2025 conclave that resulted in the election of Pope Leo XIV (born Robert Francis Prevost) marked an “unexpected turning point in the recent history of the Catholic Church and international diplomacy.”[1] Not only is Pope Leo XIV is the first American-born pontiff, originally from Chicago, Illinois, he also has dual citizenship in both the United States and Peru, where he served nearly two decades of ministry as a bishop.[2] Pope Leo XIV’s election extends the trend set by his predecessor, Pope Francis of Argentina, who in 2013 became the first non-European pope in over a millennium. [3] Pope Leo’s unique and multicultural background represents “ a geopolitical shift that could redefine the Vatican’s role in the 21st century.”[4]

Since assuming the head of the Vatican, Pope Leo XIV has already consistently preached peace in international affairs, immediately offering the Vatican as a “neutral venue to facilitate dialogue between Russia and Ukraine” in hopes of ending the war in Eastern Europe.[5] Within weeks of his election, Leo XIV hosted Ukrainian officials and even met Ukrainian President Zelensky, conveying the Holy See’s willingness to broker negotiations and condemning the conflicts in both Ukraine as well as in the Middle East. [6] Pope Leo XIV denounced Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, condemning it as “a true invasion, imperialist in nature, where Russia seeks to conquer territory for reasons of power.”[7] This powerful language acts as an explicit condemnation that aligns the Holy See with the international consensus defending Ukraine’s sovereignty.

Other leaders of international governing bodies have also expressed their continued wishes to work together with the Vatican in wake of Pope Leo XIV’s election. United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres congratulated Leo XIV and noted that the Pope’s election comes at a time of great global challenges requiring strong moral voices for peace, social justice, human dignity, and compassion.[8] The U.N. Secretary-General expressed his hope to build on “the long legacy of cooperation between the United Nations and the Holy See – nurtured most recently by Pope Francis – to advance solidarity, foster reconciliation, and build a just and sustainable world for all.”[9]

Another issue at the forefront in Europe is the rise of populist movements, some of which challenge the core values of the European Union and, at times, the inclusive social teaching of the Church. European Church leaders raised this concern directly with Pope Leo XIV, discussing the tensions with populist politics and Europe’s demographic decline[10] Addressing Italian and European leaders, Pope Leo delivered a sober assessment of the times: “Numerous wars are devastating our planet,” he warned, describing how images and voices of the suffering emphasizes his “pleading for peace.”[11] Recalling the prophetic pleas for peace made by past popes, Leo “renew[ed] [his] heartfelt appeal” for the world to reestablish peace “in every part of the world” and to uphold the foundations of justice, equity, and cooperation among all.[12] Leo XIV also turned attention to issues vital to Europe’s social fabric when he praised Italy for its “generous assistance” to migrants arriving across the Mediterranean and for efforts against human trafficking.[13] While Europe has been divided on migration, the Pope commended Italians’ tradition of openness and “attitude of openness and solidarity”, encouraging them to persist in welcoming those in need.[14] At the same time, he gently urged that migrants be helped to integrate respectfully into society[15] In an era of rising nationalism in parts of Europe, Leo’s stance aligns with his Pentecost homily where he condemned exclusionary mindsets and warned that supposed “security zones” can sow prejudice by “separating us from our neighbors.”[16] His call to “break down the walls of indifference and hatred” speaks directly to European challenges of xenophobia and division.[17]

Pope Leo’s journey from Chicago, to Peru, to the Holy See shows how the leader of the Vatican and the Catholic Church brings a multicultural perspective in dealing with the rising issues of the 21st century. Whether facilitating peace talks, engaging with other international leaders, or showing both North and South Americans that they have a seat at the Papal table, Pope Leo XIV represents how the Future of the Vatican’s international relations remains to be as important and collaborate as ever.

1 Luis Miguel Santibáñez Suárez, Leo XIV, the southern pope reshaping Vatican diplomacy (May 31, 2025), https://latinoamerica21.com/en/leo-xiv-the-southern-pope-reshaping-vatican-diplomacy.

2 Id.

3 Israel Rosales, Pope Leo XIV’s electors represented Catholics’ changing economic distribution (May 8, 2025), https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/econographics/pope-leo-xivs-electors-represented-catholics-changing- economic-distribution.

4 Luis Miguel Santibáñez Suárez, supra note 1.

5 Id.

6Reese et. al., Religion and Foreign Policy Webinar: Pope Leo XIV's First 100 Days (August 12, 2025), https://www.cfr.org/event/religion-and-foreign-policy-webinar-pope-leo-xivs-first-100-days.

7 Lucy Pakhnyuk, In 2022 interview, pope condemns Russia's 'imperialist' invasion of Ukraine (May 10, 2025), https://kyivindependent.com/pope-condemns-russias-imperialist-invasion-of-ukraine-in-2022-interview/

8 Al Jazeera, The world reacts to selection of Pope Leo XIV with excitement, hope (May 8, 2025), https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/5/8/the-world-reacts-to-selection-of-pope-leo-xiv-with-excitement-hope.

9 Id.

10 Hannah Brockhaus, EU bishops say Pope Leo XIV is ‘ready to listen’ to concerns about war, populism (May 23, 2025), https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/264307/eu-bishops-say-pope-leo-xiv-is-ready-to-listen-to- concerns-about-war-populism.

11 Cindy Wooden, Pope, in official visit to Italy, praises joint action for the common good (Oct. 14, 2025), https://www.usccb.org/news/2025/pope-official-visit-italy-praises-joint-action-common-good.

12 Id.

13 Id.

14 Id.

15 Id.

16 The Guardian, Pope Leo criticises ‘exclusionary mindset’ of nationalist political movements (June 8, 2025), https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jun/08/pope-leo-criticises-exclusionary-mindset-of-nationalist-political- movements.

17 Id.