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I believe Pope Leo XIV will continue Pope Francis’ legacy but with a different style. He will foster a missionary and synodal Church in the footsteps of his predecessor.
One of the initiatives of the Jubilee Year is to urge wealthy nations to cancel the crushing debts of impoverished countries. Debt relief will allow struggling nations to redirect resources toward development, education, and healthcare, fostering a more equitable world.
Pope Francis has called for debt cancellation in the context of the 2025 Jubilee Year, declaring that debt relief is a matter of social and economic justice. How will it affect the Philippines in particular? Will the new pontiff, who chose the name of Leo XIV, continue this advocacy?
In April 2022, Sri Lanka announced the suspension of bond payments on its external debt. Since then, the “Pearl of the Indian Ocean” has faced an unprecedented situation: a financial default that has exposed long-dragging economic vulnerabilities.
The Church in Nigeria calls on government to put in place more equitable economic policies in order to “alleviate the burden on citizens.”
1. The current debt crisis is global
Over 100 countries are currently facing a debt crisis, with 60% of their debt held by private creditors, making debt resolution even more complex.
A call for debt justice and financial reform, inspired by the Jubilee tradition and Pope Francis’ vision.
In choosing his papal name, it appears that Pope Leo XIV is planning to continue and further develop the just and compassionate steps laid out by the last Pope Leo, who launched modern Catholic Social Teaching.
Fr. Brian Gore, a dedicated Australian Columban missionary, lived a life of faith and social justice, championing the rights of the poor in the Philippines. As the Church looks to Pope Leo XIV for leadership in addressing poverty, abuse, and exploitation, Fr. Brian’s legacy stands as a beacon of faith in action.
Pope Leo XIV spent most of his career as a priest in Peru. He shunned away from the spotlight, but his work echoed across the Andes and as far as Rome. As Pope, he is seen as continuing the work of Pope Francis, making the church more missionary, inclusive, and closer to the people on the margins.
