Pope Leo’s First Firestorm

Did Leo XIV cast doubt on Catholic teaching — or just stumble in a casual interview?

The reaction to Pope Leo XIV’s first major interview has been swift and fierce. Within hours of its publication, commentators across the Catholic spectrum were scrutinising his words, and particularly his choice of phrasing when asked about Catholic teaching on marriage and sexual morality. His statement that a change in doctrine was “highly unlikely, certainly in the near future” has been interpreted by some as a crack in the Church’s immutable teaching, an opening to future innovation, or worse, a denial of the permanence of dogma. LifeSite declared that Leo had publicly doubted the immutability of Catholic truth. Edward Feser and others voiced their disappointment in tones of frustration. Even sympathetic voices such as Edward Pentin and Dr. Peter Kwasniewski suggested that Leo missed an opportunity to speak with clarity, leaving instead a trail of ambiguity that would inevitably be seized upon. And they are right.