Pope Leo XIV has stepped into the global spotlight with a message both urgent and deeply reflective: humanity, he says, must confront the roots of its growing divisions if it hopes to overcome the violence and hatred that seem to be pulling societies apart. In his first major interview since his election on May 8, 2025, the newly installed pontiff offered a candid assessment of the world’s polarization, income inequality, and the diminishing effectiveness of international institutions, while also sharing personal insights into his unique background and the challenges of his new role.
The interview, conducted by Elise Allen, senior correspondent for Crux, and released in excerpts on September 14, 2025—coinciding with the pope’s 70th birthday—serves as the centerpiece of an authorized biography, Leo XIV: Citizen of the World, Missionary of the XXI Century, set for publication in Spanish on September 18. English and Portuguese editions are expected in early 2026, according to Crux.
Pope Leo, the first American-born pope and a man who spent over two decades in Peru, spoke openly about the “huge learning curve” he faces as a world leader. “There’s still a huge learning curve ahead of me,” he admitted, reflecting on the sudden visibility and responsibility that come with the papacy. “It’s very public; people know the phone conversations or meetings I’ve had with the heads of state of a number of different governments, countries around the world, in a time when the voice of the Church has a significant role to play.”
But it was his diagnosis of global polarization that struck the most resonant chord. “We live in times when ‘polarization’ seems to be one of the words of the day, but it’s not helping anybody. Or if it’s helping anyone, it’s very few when everyone else is suffering,” Pope Leo told Allen, as reported by Crux. He listed several causes for the deepening divides: the lingering fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic, a widening gap between the wealthy and the working class, and a collective loss of meaning about what truly matters in life.
Income inequality, in particular, drew his ire. “For example, CEOs that 60 years ago might have been making four to six times more than what the workers are receiving, the last figure I saw it’s 600 times more than what average workers are receiving,” he said, referencing data that has become a flashpoint in debates over economic justice. The pope pointed to the recent news that a proposed compensation package for Tesla’s Elon Musk could make him the world’s first trillionaire. “What does that mean, and what’s that about? If that is the only thing that has value anymore, then we’re in big trouble,” he warned.
These comments, echoed in excerpts published by Crux and other outlets, underscore the pope’s concern that the erosion of shared values is at the heart of society’s woes. “Perhaps in some places the loss of a higher sense of what human life is about is the root of the problem, because if people lose the sense of the values of human life, the family and society, then what matters anymore?” he reflected. He acknowledged that he did not “pretend to have all the answers,” but insisted that honest reflection and dialogue are essential if humanity is to find a way forward.
For Pope Leo, one possible antidote to polarization lies within the Church itself: synodality. This approach, which emphasizes communal discernment, shared responsibility, and listening, has been a hallmark of recent papacies but, as Leo noted, its roots stretch back to the Second Vatican Council and his own experiences in Latin America. “Synodality is a way of describing how we can come together and be a community and seek communion as a Church, so that it’s a Church whose primary focus is not on an institutional hierarchy, but rather on a sense of ‘we together,’ ‘our Church,’” he explained. He was quick to clarify that synodality is not about eroding the authority of bishops or priests: “Sometimes bishops or priests might feel, ‘synodality is going to take away my authority.’ That’s not what synodality is about, and maybe your idea of what your authority is, is somewhat out of focus, mistaken.”
Beyond the Church, Pope Leo sees synodality as a model for broader society—a way to build bridges and foster dialogue in a fractured world. “If we listen to the Gospel, and if we reflect upon it together, and if we strive to walk forward together, listening to one another, trying to discover what God is saying to us today, there is a lot to be gained for us there,” he said, as quoted by Crux.
The pope also addressed the ongoing war in Ukraine, a conflict that has tested the Vatican’s diplomatic skills and raised questions about the Holy See’s potential role as a mediator. Despite speculation, Leo drew a firm distinction between advocating for peace and direct mediation. “I’d make a distinction in terms of the voice of the Holy See in advocating for peace and a role as mediator, which I think is very different and is not as realistic as the first one,” he told Allen. He emphasized the Vatican’s commitment to neutrality, noting, “Some things I’ve said have been interpreted in one way or the other, and that’s all right, but I think that the realistic part of it is not primary right now.”
Instead, he called for renewed hope and a commitment to dialogue. “The useless killing after these years of people on both sides – in that particular conflict, but in other conflicts – I think people have to somehow be wakened up to say, there’s another way to do this,” he said. “I believe strongly that we cannot give up hope, ever. I have high hopes in human nature.”
The pope’s critique extended to global institutions. The United Nations, he lamented, is not living up to its promise as a forum for resolving multilateral disputes. “In theory, the United Nations should be the place where many of these issues are dealt with,” he said. “Unfortunately, it seems to be generally recognized that the United Nations, at least at this moment in time, has lost its ability to bring people together on multilateral issues.”
Despite these daunting challenges, Pope Leo’s tone remained one of humility and optimism. He described the papacy as “something that can happen only by the grace of God,” and credited the Holy Spirit for his election. When asked about his identity as the first American pope who also spent half his ministerial life in Peru, he replied, “I think the answer is both/and. I’m obviously an American and I very much feel that I’m an American, but I also love Peru very much, the Peruvian people, that is a part of who I am.”
He even found time for a bit of levity, revealing a soft spot for Peruvian soccer over American teams—at least if the two nations were to meet in the World Cup. Baseball loyalties, he said, were more ecumenical: “Robert Prevost was a White Sox fan, but as pope, I’m a fan of all the teams.” Growing up in a household split between White Sox and Cubs fans, he learned early that “we learned, even in sports, to have an open, dialogical, friendly and not angry competitive stance.”
As the world awaits the full release of his authorized biography, Pope Leo XIV’s words offer a rare blend of candor, self-awareness, and hope—reminding listeners that even in turbulent times, the possibility of bridge-building and renewal remains within reach.
