Pope Francis has been labeled as a progressive leader of the Roman Catholic faith for his stance on several topics, including homosexuality and climate change.
This has led to many online referring to the ruler of the Holy See as “The Woke Pope.” But just how progressive is Francis?
Pope Francis as Leader of the Catholic Faith
Pope Francis officially took over as leader of the Vatican and the Catholic Church in March 2013, succeeding Pope Benedict XVI.
As the leader of the Catholic Faith, he’s also been referred to as the “Woke Pope” for his stance on environmentalism, his welcoming of refugees, and his openness towards members of the LGBTQ community.
Pope Benedict’s Stance on Socio-Political Topics
Pope Benedict’s progressive stance on socio-political topics has garnered a fair amount of attention over the past decade.
While many people see the ruler of the Holy See as a visionary and with the times, so to speak, others believe his comments are controversial.
The Ruler of the Holy See Makes Headlines For Conservation With Gay Man
In 2018, Pope Francis made headlines after it was revealed he shared words of kindness with Juan Carlos Cruz, a Chilean advocate for sex abuse victims.
During the conversation, the pope said to Cruz, who is gay, “God made you like this, and he loves you.”
The Vatican is Holding Pope Francis Back From Establishing a More Inclusive Church
Speaking on the Vatican’s declaration to refer to same-sex unions as a sin back in 2021, Cruz claims they are undermining the efforts of Francis, who he claims is trying to usher in a more inclusive church.
He said they “are completely in a world of their own, away from people and trying to defend the indefensible.”
Pope Francis Earns the Respect of Catholics in the LGBTQ Community
Francis has earned a place within the hearts of many in the LGBTQ community for his words of kindness towards those who are still considered sinners by many Catholics.
“If the church and the CDF do not advance with the world, Catholics will continue to flee,” said Cruz.
Previous Statements By Pope Benedict Have No Real Weight Says, Activist
Back in Argentina, where Francis’ was born and raised, LGBTQ activist Esteban Paulon argues the Vatican leader’s words were gestures and lacked any real weight.
“They were not institutional pronouncements,” said Paulon, executive director of the Institute of Public Policies LGBT+. “Saying that homosexual practice is a sin takes us back 200 years and promotes hate speech that, unfortunately, in Latin America and Europe, is on the rise.”
Pope Benedict XVI Bans Homosexual’s From Becoming Priests
Whether Francis can convince the core of the church to embrace the LGBTQ community or not, he’s proven to be a lot more progressive than his predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI.
Nearly 20 years ago, Benedict signed a document that prohibited members of the faith with “deep-seated homosexual tendencies” from becoming priests. In contrast, Francis claims gay clergy members are worthy of forgiveness.
Pope Francis Speaks on Environmental Issue
It’s not just his comments in favor of the LGBTQ community that have earned Francis the title of “Woke Pope.”
Over the past decade, the ruler of the Holy See has spoken on the effects of climate change and even published a 180-page official document known as an encyclical or pastoral letter, calling for developed nations to stop exploiting the planet.
Pope Francis Calls Out Climate Change Deniers
In 2019, the Pope again called for action, claiming the world had entered a climate emergency.
During an interview on television in the US in which he was asked about climate change deniers, Francis said “There are people who are foolish and foolish even if you show them research, they don’t believe it.”
Vatican Leader Welcomes Refugees With Open Arms
Pope Francis has spoken on several occasions about welcoming refugees to Italy and Europe, claiming “persons with rights and duties, not just objects of assistance.”
His stance on an open border policy, in which he claims refugees shouldn’t be “denied a new start,” has further emphasized his wokeness.
Can Pope Francis Reform the Church
It’s clear there’s a lot more work that needs to be done before one can say the Roman Catholic Church is accepting of all worshippers.
However, under Pope Francis, great strides are being made, partly due to his public talks on inclusion, which could help lead the Roman Catholic Church into a new era that accepts people from all walks of life.
