Leo XIV on Whether He Will Change Church Teaching: ‘Not at the Moment’!

On homosexuality and women’s ordination…

Leo XIV on Whether He Will Change Church Teaching:
‘Not at the Moment’!

The Rev. Robert F. Prevost, aka ‘Pope Leo XIV’, is a clever fellow. He knows how to demolish Church teaching by giving the impression that he will hold the line on it. In this he faithfully follows his master, ‘Pope’ Francis.

U.S. journalist Elise Ann Allen of the Novus Ordo news site Crux has conducted a lengthy interview with Prevost that will be issued in early 2026 in English under the title Pope Leo XIV: Global Citizen, Missionary of the 21st Century. The Spanish version, as León XIV: Ciudadano del mundo, misionero del siglo XXI, has already been released.

For the past few days, Crux has been publishing individual excerpts from the interview. Bits and pieces of the original video footage have also been made available by Crux on YouTube.

Of the excerpts released so far, the three topics that seem to have received the most attention are the use of the Traditional Latin Mass, issuing surrounding the perverts’ circle known as the ‘LGBTQ+ community’, and the possibility of women’s ordination:

• Full Text: “Pope Leo speaks to Crux’s Elise Ann Allen about LGBTQ+ issues and the liturgy” (Sep. 18, 2025)
• Video: Pope Leo XIV on LGBTQ+ – Exclusive Interview (Sep. 18, 2025)

As to the first issue, that of the Traditional Latin Mass (TLM), there isn’t much to share. Leo basically said it’s obviously a very complicated matter and he’ll look into it with an open mind.

As to the second issue, that of sexual perversion, Leo had a bit more to say, but we’ll focus only on the most important part:

What I’m trying to say is what Francis said very clearly when he would say, ‘todos, todos, todos’ [‘everyone, everyone, everyone’]. Everyone’s invited in, but I don’t invite a person in because they are or are not of any specific identity. I invite a person in because they are a son or daughter of God. You’re all welcome, and let’s get to know one another and respect one another. At some point, when specific questions will come up… People want the church doctrine to change, want attitudes to change. I think we have to change attitudes before we even think about changing what the Church says about any given question. I find it highly unlikely, certainly in the near future, that the church’s doctrine in terms of what the church teaches about sexuality, what the Church teaches about marriage, [will change].

Now that answer is clever. The key takeaway by inattentive readers will be that nothing will change doctrinally, though we should show respect to those who proclaim their attachment to certain sins contrary to holy purity.

What Leo really said, however, is more nuanced and rather explosive: “I think we have to change attitudes before we even think about changing what the Church says about any given question. I find it highly unlikely, certainly in the near future, that the church’s doctrine in terms of what the church teaches about sexuality, what the Church teaches about marriage, [will change].”

Let’s unpack this.

First, he wants to continue on his predecessor Francis’ path of changing attitudes. We are no longer supposed to be repulsed by people who make their attachment to perversion into a public ‘identity’, we are to welcome them with respect. That is quite problematic by itself already, because who cares what teaching is technically ‘on the books’ when in the practical order, such teaching is effectively ignored and contradicted? Actions always speak louder than words, especially printed words.

Second, notice that Leo does not at all rule out “changing what the Church says about any given question”, he just doesn’t think it should be first in the order of priority, thereby affirming its intrinsic possibility. For him to add, “I find it highly unlikely, certainly in the near future, that the church’s doctrine in terms of what the church teaches about sexuality, what the Church teaches about marriage, [will change]”, simply underscores that the Church’s moral and sacramental doctrine could change. Also, the way he speaks — let’s remember, this interview was conducted in Leo’s native language, which is American English — is a bit odd. To say he “find[s] it highly unlikely” that there will be a change makes it seem as if he had no role in the matter, when of course he would be the chief agent in bringing about that change.

As to the third issue, that of “the role of women in the Church”, which always eventually comes to the question of women’s ordination, Prevost is even more candid:

…I hope to continue in the footsteps of Francis, including in appointing women to some leadership roles at different levels in the Church’s life, recognizing the gifts that women have that can contribute to the life of the Church in many ways.

The topic becomes a hot-button issue when the specific question is asked about ordination. What the synod [on synodality] had spoken about specifically was the ordination, perhaps, of women deacons, which has been a question that’s been studied for many years now. There’ve been different commissions appointed by different popes to say, what can we do about this? I think that will continue to be an issue. I at the moment don’t have an intention of changing the teaching of the Church on the topic. I think there are some previous questions that have to be asked.

(underlining added)

Again, the comment reveals that Prevost believes that (at least some) Church teaching is changeable. Interestingly enough, in this particular part of the interview (which actually came before discussion of ‘LGBTQ’ issues), the false pope even recognizes that if Church teaching were to change, it would be due to the role he plays in getting it changed.

At this point, we should briefly consider the true Catholic position on the changeability of Church teaching. Can Catholic doctrine ever change?

A competent answer was provided by Fr. Francis Jeremiah Connell (1888-1967) in an essay published in 1947, entitled “Does Catholic Doctrine Change?”. Here are some salient quotations from it:

Of course, no Catholic could accept in its unqualified form the statement that the teaching of the Catholic Church is subject to change…. At the same time, to exclude all manner of change from the Church’s teachings in different periods and under different circumstances would be contrary both to history and to theology.

The purpose of this paper is to lay down the general principles on this subject and to point the way to the solution of the majority of the problems which center about the unchangeableness or changeableness of the Church’s teaching.

…the magisterium tacitly approves an opinion which is universally taught for a considerable length of time.

…in the dogmatic or moral teaching of the Church, which is included in a practical manner in what is commanded, approved or authorized [by the Church] for the spiritual welfare of all the faithful, by virtue of the protection of the Holy Spirit there can be found nothing that is false or detrimental to souls.

…

The faithful are obliged in conscience to accept [non-infallible] decisions internally, for even though their correctness is not guaranteed by the charism of infallibility, those who formulate and promulgate them are undoubtedly aided by the Holy Spirit.

…Yet, at times we hear Catholics criticizing such teachings, apparently with the erroneous idea that they are bound to accept only the infallible pronouncements of the Church.

(Rev. Francis J. Connell, “Does Catholic Doctrine Change?”, American Ecclesiastical Review 117 [Nov. 1947], pp. 321-331)

As he makes clear in his full answers to Allen, ‘Pope’ Leo is pleased to kick “hot-button issues” into the synodal circus. After all, synodality is now the name of the game. Besides, doing so takes the pressure off him and shows him to be interested in that process of ‘profound listening’ that is all the rave these days.

Once more the Vatican II Church thereby shows itself to be essentially different from the Roman Catholic Church, which does not first have to listen to people to know what to teach. Rather, she simply proclaims the doctrine revealed by the Most Holy Trinity (see Mk 6:2; Jn 7:16; 16:13; 18:19; 2 Jn 1:9) via the Deposit of Faith entrusted by the Son of God to His Apostles: “And they were persevering in the doctrine of the apostles, and in the communication of the breaking of bread, and in prayers” (Acts 2:42). This teaching of the Apostles was in truth “the doctrine of the Lord” (Acts 13:12), from which St. Paul urged the Thessalonians never to depart: “Therefore, brethren, stand fast; and hold the traditions which you have learned, whether by word, or by our epistle” (2 Th 2:14); for “Whosoever revolteth, and continueth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that continueth in the doctrine, the same hath both the Father and the Son” (2 Jn 9).

That is why “Faith … cometh by hearing; and hearing by the word of Christ” (Rom 10:17). As Our Blessed Lord said: “He that hath ears to hear, let him hear” (Mt 11:15). By contrast, the maxim of the Vatican II Church seems to be: “He that has a mouth to speak, let him speak, and we will all listen.” Instead of the sinner listening to the Church, as Christ commanded (see Mt 18:17; Heb 13:17), the synodalists want for the Church to listen to the sinner.

Yet, the God-given proper order is not difficult to understand: God reveals truths to mankind and appoints and empowers certain men to carry this teaching to the ends of the earth and until the end of time, substantially unchanged. Where is the problem? The problem was identified by St. Paul when he entrusted St. Timothy, whom he had consecrated a bishop, with the preaching of that doctrine:

I charge thee, before God and Jesus Christ, who shall judge the living and the dead, by his coming, and his kingdom: Preach the word: be instant in season, out of season: reprove, entreat, rebuke in all patience and doctrine. For there shall be a time, when they will not endure sound doctrine; but, according to their own desires, they will heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears. And will indeed turn away their hearing from the truth, but will be turned unto fables. 5 But be thou vigilant, labour in all things, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill thy ministry. Be sober.

(2 Timothy 4:1-5)

Ironically, just a few days ago, this very verse was proclaimed in the Second Reading of the so-called ‘Commemoration of the Martyrs and Witnesses of the Faith of the 21st century’, an ecumenical (interdenominational) celebration in which heretics — those that deny the Faith! — took an active part. This shows the absurdity to which the Vatican II idea of the Faith and the Church existing in elements in other religions leads.

Oh, well. So there is a new ‘Pope’ in town, one who knows how to dress and chant. But the apostate agenda continues, as do the interviews.

This first big interview book with Leo XIV will surely not remain the only one. Why the Spanish edition would be published before the English one, when the conversation was conducted in English by two native speakers, is anyone’s guess. The good thing, however, is that by the time the book finally appears in early 2026, it may very well be that most English speakers simply won’t care anymore.

Image source: YouTube (screenshot)
License: fair use