For centuries, the first 100 days of a pontificate have carried a certain mystique in the Catholic world. While U.S. presidents are judged by their initial flurry of executive orders and legislative pushes, the new pope’s first months are measured less by policy and more by the tone, vision, and spiritual direction he sets for the world’s 1.3 billion Catholics. As of August 18, 2025, Pope Leo XIV has completed this pivotal milestone, leaving many to ponder the significance of his early days in office—and the message he’s sending to both the faithful and a watching world.
Pope Leo XIV’s papacy began on May 8, 2025, and in the 100 days since, he has delivered a tapestry of memorable remarks, each weaving together themes of peace, unity, mercy, and hope. According to Interaksyon, his words have resonated far beyond the Vatican walls, touching on everything from the wounds of war to the quiet heroism of family life. The contrast with a U.S. president’s first 100 days couldn’t be starker: where presidents often scramble to fulfill campaign promises, the pope’s focus is on setting a spiritual course, offering comfort, challenge, and inspiration.
In his very first greeting after being elected, Leo XIV set the tone for his papacy. "It is the peace of the risen Christ. A peace that is unarmed and disarming, humble and persevering. A peace that comes from God, the God who loves us all, unconditionally," he declared. This emphasis on peace—unarmed and humble—was a harbinger of the messages that would follow. During the Vigil of Pentecost, he reminded the world that "in a divided and troubled world, the Holy Spirit teaches us to walk together in unity."
Peace, for Leo XIV, is not just an absence of conflict, but a spiritual reality rooted in Christ’s resurrection. At the Angelus on the solemnity of Corpus Christi, he spoke with urgency: "Today more than ever, humanity cries out and calls for peace. This is a cry that requires responsibility and reason, and it must not be drowned out by the din of weapons or the rhetoric that incites conflict."
But Leo XIV’s first 100 days have not been solely about peace. He has repeatedly called the Church to renewed evangelization, especially in places where faith is fragile or ridiculed. "These are contexts where it is not easy to preach the Gospel and bear witness to its truth, where believers are mocked, opposed, despised, or at best tolerated and pitied. Yet, precisely for this reason, they are the places where our missionary outreach is desperately needed," he said in a homily with cardinals. His message: the Church must go where it is needed most, even if that means enduring hardship or scorn.
In the same breath, he urged courage: "Take courage! Without fear! Many times in the Gospel Jesus says: ‘Do not be afraid.’ We need to be courageous in the witness we give, with the world and above all with life: giving life, serving, sometimes with great sacrifices in order to live out this very mission." For Leo XIV, evangelization is not conquest, but transformation. "Evangelization, dear brothers and sisters, is not our attempt to conquer the world but the infinite grace that radiates from lives transformed by the kingdom of God," he insisted at the Vigil of Pentecost.
Mercy and love have also been central. Leo XIV has spoken often of God’s unconditional love: "God loves us, God loves all, and evil will not prevail. We are all in God’s hands. Therefore, without fear, united, holding hands with God and with each other, let us move forward." He’s called for a "revolution of love," urging the faithful to become "agents of communion, capable of breaking down the logic of division and polarization, of individualism and egocentrism."
His reflections on family life have been poignant. He described maternal love as "one of the most wonderful expressions of the love of God," and encouraged children to show gratitude to their parents: "Saying ‘thank you’ each day for the gift of life and for all that comes with it is the first way to honor your father and your mother." He sees the family as the primary place where faith is handed on, "shared like food at the family table and like the love in our hearts."
Leo XIV has not shied away from addressing the responsibilities of leaders, both religious and secular. To government leaders, he said, "It is the responsibility of government leaders to work to build harmonious and peaceful civil societies. This can be achieved above all by investing in the family, founded upon the stable union between a man and a woman." He’s also called for unity and forgiveness within the Church, reminding the faithful that "unity in the Church and among the Churches… is fostered by forgiveness and mutual trust."
Young people have not been forgotten. In his first Regina Caeli, the pope exhorted: "And to young people, I say: ‘Do not be afraid! Accept the invitation of the Church and of Christ the Lord!’" He challenged them to "aspire to great things, to holiness, wherever you are. Do not settle for less. You will then see the light of the Gospel growing every day, in you and around you."
Hope, perhaps, has been the golden thread running through all of Leo XIV’s remarks. He’s spoken movingly about the trials of life, but always with a sense of promise: "Amid life’s trials, our hope is inspired by the firm and reassuring certainty of God’s love, poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit. That hope does not disappoint." Even when addressing the plight of migrants and refugees, he framed their suffering as a testimony to hope: "In a world darkened by war and injustice, even when all seems lost, migrants and refugees stand as messengers of hope. Their courage and tenacity bear heroic testimony to a faith that sees beyond what our eyes can see and gives them the strength to defy death on the various contemporary migration routes."
Throughout these 100 days, Leo XIV has returned again and again to the idea that fullness of life isn’t about possessions or success, but about what we give away. "The fullness of our existence does not depend on what we store up… Rather, fullness has to do with what we joyfully welcome and share," he said at the Mass for the Jubilee of Young People. He’s encouraged all to listen for God’s call, to embrace mercy, and to walk together as a family—both in the Church and in the world.
As the world marks the end of Pope Leo XIV’s first 100 days, it is clear that he has used his voice to challenge, comfort, and inspire. His words, drawn from deep wells of tradition and personal conviction, have set a tone of hope and unity—one that may well shape the Catholic Church for years to come.
