Pope Leo XIV has completed his first year as pontiff, a period marked by an unusual public feud with US President Donald Trump and initial steps to reshape the Vatican's governance. The pope, who has sought to present himself as a pastor focused on shepherding his flock, found himself drawn into a transatlantic war of words after Trump repeatedly misrepresented his views. The tension culminated in a fence-mending visit by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on the eve of the anniversary, after which both sides stressed strong bilateral ties.
Unlike his predecessor Pope Francis, who launched sweeping reforms early in his papacy, Leo has taken a more measured approach. He has made several significant decisions, including dissolving a Holy See fundraising commission created under questionable circumstances in 2025 while Francis was hospitalised. The commission, which included only Italians with no professional fundraising experience, was linked to the same Vatican office that lost tens of millions of euros in a scandalous London property deal. Leo also cancelled a Francis initiative, the World Day of Children, and suppressed the ad hoc pontifical commission created for it.
Several key appointments loom that will allow Leo to shape the church's hierarchy. Chicago Cardinal Blase Cupich, 77, is two years past the normal retirement age, and Los Angeles Archbishop José Gomez turns 75 in December, opening the way for new leaders in major US sees. Leo has already named Archbishop Ronald Hicks to replace retiring Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York, a choice described as ideologically moderate. At the Vatican, British Cardinal Arthur Roche, 76, heads the liturgy office that enforced Francis' crackdown on the old Latin Mass; his eventual successor will signal Leo's stance on that divisive issue.
American Cardinal Kevin Farrell, 78, remains head of the family and laity office and serves as camerlengo, overseeing sensitive financial committees. Canadian Cardinal Michael Czerny turns 80 in July, which will exclude him from voting in the next conclave and reduce the number of voting-age cardinals to 117, below the usual cap of 120. This suggests Leo may announce his first class of new cardinals in the coming year to choose his successor.
