First Impressions: Pope Leo XIV

By: Fr. Rob Howe

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I recently had a phone conversation with a longtime friend—someone I haven’t seen in years, now living on the western side of the U.S. We got to talking about a book he’d read. I can’t remember the title for the life of me, but the message stuck with me: first impressions matter more than we think.

He shared a study from the book about doctors and malpractice lawsuits. It turns out that doctors who come across as empathetic and kind in their first meetings are far less likely to be sued—even when something goes wrong. Meanwhile, those who seem blunt or detached face more lawsuits, regardless of their skill. That really struck a chord.

So, with that in mind, here are my first impressions of Pope Leo XIV.

A Name with Meaning

The first thing that caught my attention was the name he chose: Leo XIV. That name carries deep significance. Back in graduate school, we spent a lot of time studying Rerum Novarum, an encyclical by Pope Leo XIII in the 19th century. It laid the foundation for Catholic social teaching—emphasizing the dignity of work, the rights of workers, and the Gospel call to justice and love.

By choosing the name Leo, I believe our new Pope is aligning himself with that legacy—a Church rooted in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, and committed to justice and compassion.

Honest Humanity

The second thing I noticed: he looked petrified.

And honestly? That made me like him even more. He looked human.

Naturally, I had to look up how long he’s been a cardinal. The answer? Less than two years. His name first came up in August 2023. So just imagine someone saying to him in July 2023: “In two years, you’ll be Pope.” I think he would’ve had them committed!

Yet, here he is. He said yes.

That tells me he’s rooted in faith. Even in the face of what must have felt like overwhelming fear—what I imagine were knocking knees—he said yes to the Spirit of God. That’s profound.

A Church for Everyone

The third thing that struck me, and perhaps the most personally moving, was his vision for the Church. If you didn’t catch his words, I encourage you to go back and listen. He made it clear: everyone belongs. No one is outside. All are welcome and wanted.

That’s why, at Mass today, we chose a particular song that felt just right. It was almost unanimous among our staff: we have to sing that one.

Now, a little inside baseball—some people in our Church (yes, even in our own diocese) believe we shouldn’t sing that song. That we don’t really mean “all are welcome.”

But we do.

We mean it wholeheartedly. All are welcome.

And now, the Holy Father just said it, too. That did my heart a lot of good.

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First impressions are powerful.
But perhaps the most powerful thing we saw in Pope Leo XIV was his quiet trust—that God’s presence and grace will carry him through whatever lies ahead.

He’s not ready.

None of us ever really are.

But he said yes.

And that’s enough.

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