VATICAN CITY — They were a large minority at last week's conclave, still scarred by 12 years of marginalization under Francis's pontificate. Yet Catholic conservatives and traditionalists are now cautiously optimistic. The election of Pope Leo XIV, the first American pontiff in history, suggests a possible return to greater doctrinal rigor, even if progressives see it more as a continuation of the reform initiated by his predecessor.
Cardinal Gerhard Müller, a leading figure in the conservative camp and former prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith—ousted by Francis in 2017—welcomed the election of Pope Leo XIV on Monday. He said the latter could reconcile factions that had been at odds within the Church during the Francis years. Müller suggested, in particular, that the new pope could ease restrictions on the Latin Mass, reinstated by Benedict XVI and significantly reduced by Francis.
"I am convinced that he will be able to overcome the unnecessary tensions that have harmed the unity of the Church," Müller told the Associated Press. "Unnecessary conflicts must be avoided." He added that Leo XIV, by his temperament, could "find a solution beneficial to all" regarding the use of the traditional liturgy.
The election of former Cardinal Robert Prevost, an Augustinian missionary who spent much of his life in Peru, was surprisingly swift: less than 24 hours, a record in a vast and geographically diverse conclave. His victory in the fourth round of voting by a large majority exceeded expectations, in part because Francis had appointed the overwhelming majority of cardinal electors.
In conservative ranks, several symbolic gestures by the new pope were interpreted as positive signals: his reading of a prepared speech from the loggia of St. Peter's Basilica, his direct reference to Christ in his opening words, his choice to don the red cape (mozzetta) of the pontificate, which Francis had abandoned, and his sung recitation in Latin of the Sunday Regina Caeli.
Archbishop Georg Gänswein, a former private secretary to Benedict XVI and also marginalized under Francis, saw the choice of the name Leo—a reference to Leo XIII and Leo the Great—as a sign of respect for tradition and doctrinal clarity. “Pope Prevost gives me a lot of hope,” he said in Corriere della Sera.
Also among Leo XIV's supposed supporters is Cardinal Raymond Burke, a fervent defender of the Tridentine Mass and another figure dismissed by Francis. According to several observers, Burke worked behind the scenes to rally conservative support.
But Leo XIV is not seen solely as a champion of traditionalists. His opening words, calling for bridge-building, reassured moderates, who saw them as an extension of Francis's inclusive approach to LGBTQ+ people and followers of other faiths. "The Pope, as the successor of Peter, must bring the Church together," Müller summarized.
In the coming days, many observers expect Leo XIV to return to the papal apartments in the Apostolic Palace, which Francis had abandoned in favor of the Santa Marta hotel residence. This move would be seen by some as a reaffirmation of the institutional character of the Petrine ministry.
The vagueness surrounding Leo XIV, a man with little media coverage and discreet in his previous roles, fuels the projections. He published little and kept himself away from the usual Roman circles, not participating in conferences or academic events. A profile that allows everyone, conservatives and progressives alike, to see in him the man of their hopes.
"A man who spent most of his life in the Peruvian missions believes in the power of truth in the Gospel," John Paul II biographer George Weigel summarized in an email. For him, Leo XIV's choice of liturgical vestments indicates that "he understands the nature of the Petrine office, which should not be dictated by personal whims."
While expectations are high and sometimes contradictory, the new pontificate begins in an atmosphere of cautious hope. One thing seems clear: Leo XIV inherits a Church rife with tensions, which he will have to strive to calm while clarifying his own vision of the faith and the institution.
