Will Leo XIV continue Pope Francis's path? Apostolic Nuncio explains
Photo: Pope Leo XIV (Getty Images)
On May 8, the conclave elected a new Pope - an American, Leo XIV. However, it remains unclear whether he will continue the course of his predecessor, Francis, or choose a new direction, the Apostolic Nuncio to Ukraine, Visvaldas Kulbokas, says in an interview with RBC-Ukraine.
"We thank God for the election of the new Pope, Leo XIV. I don't know the new Pope well - I met him only once, and that was on a specific matter. So, honestly, I don't know whether we can expect changes from Leo XIV," Kulbokas said.
According to the Apostolic Nuncio to Ukraine, in his first speech after being elected, the new Pope expressed gratitude to Pope Francis.
"My impression is that he intends to continue the service of his predecessor, Pope Francis," Kulbokas suggested.
At the same time, the Apostolic Nuncio to Ukraine noted that it is currently difficult to say whether the cardinals had considered this choice in advance of the conclave or not.
"They are prohibited from sharing such information, so we don't know anything about the path that led them to elect Leo XIV specifically," Kulbokas added.
What late Pope Francis says about war in Ukraine
Pope Francis, who died on April 21, repeatedly spoke out against the war in Ukraine, calling for peace, compassion, and support for those affected. At the same time, some of his statements sparked controversy and criticism.
Before Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the pontiff avoided directly naming Moscow as the aggressor. It was only in January 2024 that Francis openly condemned Russia's actions for the first time.
