Per Mariam: Mater Dolorosa

Per Mariam: Mater Dolorosa

Analysis

What kind of Bishop does Leo XIV want?

Understanding the man Leo is looking for as a bishop, could be a key aid in understanding the wider scope of this pontificate.

Michael Haynes's avatar
Michael Haynes
Mar 18, 2026
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The question of what Pope Leo XIV is looking for in a new bishop should be simple, yet at the same time underlies the essence of his pontificate and thus proves difficult to pin down. Many Vaticanists have been desperately trying, and so far failing, to put a firm label on Leo and his developing pontificate.

Pope Leo XIV and the bishops of Peru in the Vatican
Pope Leo with Peruvian bishops, January 2026. …

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