Pope Leo XIV: What will be his official duties?

In a historic moment, Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost from Chicago was elected as Pope Leo XIV on May 8, 2025, becoming the first American to ascend to the papacy. His election marks a continuation of the progressive path set by his predecessor, Pope Francis , with a focus on social justice and outreach to marginalized communities.

First things first, the Pope is the Bishop of Rome and with that role comes the biggest responsibility: being the supreme leader of the worldwide Catholic Church.

He is responsible for spiritual guidance, theological direction, and guiding the whole Church. His word carries enormous weight. He appoints bishops, oversees doctrine, writes encyclicals, and even calls synods.


Pope is not just a religious leader
One of the core responsibilities of the Pope is to guide, inspire, and comfort believers around the world. This means celebrating Mass – often from St. Peter’s Basilica or during huge global events like World Youth Day or Easter Sunday in the Vatican Square. These Masses aren’t just religious services; they’re powerful symbols of unity. They draw people together from every continent and remind the world that the Church is, well, universal. He also gives weekly Angelus and General Audiences – those moments when he pops out onto the window or into St. Peter’s Square to share spiritual insights and blessings. Rain or shine, crowds gather to hear his thoughts.

Not only is the Pope a religious leader, he’s also the head of Vatican City State – the world’s smallest independent country. That means he has serious political responsibilities too. The Pope is technically a head of state. He meets with presidents, prime ministers, monarchs, and UN officials. He hosts delegations and often travels internationally.

Popes are prolific. Beyond speeches, they write documents that shape Catholic theology and social teaching. Papal encyclicals are carefully crafted writings that address everything from faith and morals to economics, war, technology, and the environment. When the Pope speaks, theologians, universities, and Catholic leaders all pay close attention.

Roman Curia
Every strong institution has its bureaucratic machine, and the Vatican’s is called the Roman Curia. It includes various departments (called dicasteries), councils, congregations, and tribunals that handle everything from evangelization to sainthood investigations. The Pope appoints cardinals and prefects to head these departments – kind of like his cabinet. But at the end of the day, he’s the one signing off on the big decisions. Whether it’s canonizing saints, addressing clerical abuse, or reorganizing departments for efficiency, the Pope’s hand is in it.

Tradition and modernity
From ancient vestments to 21st-century Instagram posts, the Pope walks a line between tradition and modernity. He oversees sacred rituals – from Holy Week services to canonizations – but also engages with the media, gives interviews, and even (as of recent popes) tweets. He has to maintain the theological continuity of the Church while also finding ways to make it relevant and relatable in an ever-changing world.

Being Pope isn’t just about tradition and ceremony. It’s about leadership, communication, spiritual wisdom, political savvy, and an unshakeable sense of mission. As Pope Leo XIV settles into his new role, he inherits centuries of history – and a very full calendar.

So the next time you see the Pope in white robes waving from that famous balcony, know that behind that serene smile is a man balancing divine duties, and global diplomacy.