When the white smoke rose and the world heard the name “Leo XIV,” I paused with prayerful hope. We did not yet know the contours of his papacy, but we felt something stirring. And now, with the early acts of Pope Leo unfolding before us, it has become clear: we are witnessing the emergence of a pontiff deeply committed to the very soul of the Gospel: justice, mercy, and radical love for the least among us.
At Father Joe’s Villages, where we have walked alongside our unsheltered neighbors for decades, Pope Leo has made it unmistakably clear that the measure of our faith is how we treat those who have nothing to offer us in return. In his first major address, he reminded the church that we must do more than offer charity. We must pursue justice.
That means standing not just for those marginalized communities, but with them. There’s a deep difference. Charity may keep someone alive. Justice helps them thrive…