Recently, Pope Leo XIV criticized the Iranian War, sparking a rebuke from President Trump; meanwhile, followers and non-followers of the Catholic Church are asking what political role, if any, the pope ought to play.
Cyrus Moulton spoke to religion professor and WGSS-affiliated faculty Dr. Liz Bucar for the article “Do the papacy and politics mix?” for Northeastern Global News to report on the controversy. Her answer was clear.
“The idea that a pope should not be political misunderstands the role of the papal office,” said Dr. Bucar.
Dr. Sarah Riccardi-Swartz, an assistant professor of religion and anthropology and WGSS-affiliated faculty, echoed the same sentiment, explaining that “Historically, the pope as a public figure has commented on geopolitics, whoever that pope might be at the time.” Although not abnormal, the pope’s comments have become increasingly critical recently; while he initially offered prayers for peace in Iran, he has explicitly called the war “unjust” and reproached against fighting in Jesus’ name, calling this “distorted by a desire for domination, entirely foreign to the way of Jesus Christ.”
However, Bucar notes that “The pope has never been non-political, and the accusation that he is being too political is just coming from people who don’t like his particular politics.” In fact, she believes his commentary is far from radical, and Riccardi-Swartz agrees, calling the pope’s words “quite banal” and “the status quo of Catholic social teachings.”
Read the full article here.
