When Robert Francis Prevost was elected as Pope Leo XIV in May 2025, the world basically did a double-take. An American? Leading the Vatican? It felt like something out of a movie. But once the initial shock wore off, the same old question started bubbling up in Catholic circles and newsrooms from Chicago to Lima: is Cardinal Prevost conservative?
It’s a loaded question. People want a label. They want to know if he’s going to double down on traditional doctrine or if he’s the "Progressive Savior" some hope for. Honestly, if you’re looking for a simple "yes" or "no," you’re going to be disappointed. Prevost is complicated. He’s a guy who spent decades in the trenches of Peru and then moved into the marble halls of the Vatican. He doesn't fit into the neat little boxes we like to use for American politics.
The "Missionary" Mindset vs. Traditional Labels
To understand where he stands, you have to look at his past. Prevost isn't just a "Chicago guy." He’s an Augustinian friar. That matters. The Augustinians aren't usually known for being rigid culture warriors; they’re more about community and "restless" seeking.
He spent over 20 years in Peru. That’s where he really cut his teeth. When he talks about the Church, he doesn't sound like a bureaucrat. He sounds like a missionary. He’s famously said that a bishop shouldn’t be a "little prince sitting in his kingdom." That sounds pretty liberal, right? It’s very much in line with Pope Francis’s "smell of the sheep" vibe.
But then you look at his actual theological stances. On paper, he’s pretty traditional. He has stood firm against the ordination of women as deacons. To the progressive wing of the Church, that’s a massive red flag. It’s why some people find it so hard to pin him down. He’s got the social heart of a radical and the doctrinal spine of a traditionalist.
Why the "Conservative" Label Doesn't Quite Stick
In the U.S., we tend to think "conservative" means you’re on one side of every issue: pro-life, anti-immigration, skeptical of climate change. But the Catholic Church doesn't work that way.
Take immigration. Prevost has been very vocal about this. He’s been critical of hardline U.S. policies, even sharing posts that took swipes at the political rhetoric coming out of Washington. To a MAGA-leaning Catholic, that looks "liberal." But to Prevost, it’s just basic Catholic Social Teaching. It’s about the dignity of the person.
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Then there's the environment. He’s totally aligned with Laudato si’. He sees climate change as a moral crisis. Again, in the weird world of 2026 politics, that gets you labeled as a "lefty." But if you ask him, he’d probably say he’s just being a faithful Christian.
The Synodal Path
Prevost was a huge booster for the Synod on Synodality. This is the big project Francis started to make the Church more "listening" and "inclusive."
- The Pro-Synod View: He wants more lay involvement and more women in leadership roles (even if not as priests).
- The Skeptic View: Traditionalists worry this is just "democracy by another name" and will lead to doctrinal chaos.
Prevost basically acts as the bridge here. He uses his background in Canon Law—he’s got a doctorate in it—to reassure the skeptics that the Church isn't falling apart. He’s a "law and order" guy who wants the doors wide open. It’s a weird mix.
The Dicastery for Bishops: A Power Play
Before he became Leo XIV, Prevost was the Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops. This is arguably the most powerful job in the Vatican besides the Pope. He was the guy picking the bosses.
Under his watch, the selection criteria for new bishops shifted. He wasn't looking for "culture warriors" who wanted to fight political battles. He was looking for "pastors." He wanted men who were humble and close to the people.
He also presided over the historic inclusion of three women in the process of choosing bishops. This was huge. It didn't change the doctrine of who can be a priest, but it changed the power structure. It showed he’s willing to modernize the process without necessarily changing the creed.
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Let’s Talk About the Controversies
You can’t talk about Prevost without mentioning the "stone in his shoe." While he was in Peru, and even back in Chicago, there were allegations about how he handled sexual abuse cases.
His supporters say he followed every rule to the letter. They point to documents from the Vatican and the Nunciature in Peru showing he was "attentive to the victims." But critics—especially survivor advocacy groups—aren't convinced. They see a man who was part of the system for a long time.
Does this make him "conservative"? Not necessarily. But it does make him a "company man." He believes in the institution of the Church. He believes in its structures. That inherent institutionalism is a form of conservatism that often gets overlooked in the heat of social debates.
The Reality: He’s a Radical Centrist
If you’re still asking if Cardinal Prevost is conservative, the answer is: it depends on who’s asking.
If you’re a traditionalist who wants the Latin Mass back and zero talk about "inclusion," you probably think he’s a dangerous liberal. You see his choice of the name Leo XIV—invoking Leo XIII, the father of modern social teaching—as a sign he’s going to focus too much on workers' rights and not enough on "orthodoxy."
But if you’re a progressive who wants the Church to bless same-sex unions (without caveats) and ordain women, you probably think he’s a disappointment. You see his firm "no" on female deacons as a sign that the "old guard" is still in charge.
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The truth is, he’s a centrist. But not a boring, middle-of-the-road centrist. He’s a "missionary centrist." He’s willing to break the "geopolitical taboo" of an American Pope because he doesn't really see himself as just American. He’s a dual citizen of the U.S. and Peru. He’s a bridge-builder.
What to Watch for in the Coming Months
Now that he’s Pope Leo XIV, the "is he conservative" debate is going to get even louder. Keep an eye on a few specific things:
- Appointments: Who does he put in charge of the big offices? If he keeps picking "pastor-first" guys, the conservative wing will stay nervous.
- AI and Tech: He’s already shown a massive interest in how artificial intelligence affects the working class. This is his "modern" version of the Industrial Revolution.
- Synod Follow-up: How he implements the findings of the Synod will be the ultimate test. Will he move toward more local authority for bishops' conferences, or keep it all in Rome?
Basically, Prevost is a man of the "Peripheries." He cares about the poor, the migrants, and the people on the margins. If that makes him a "liberal" in your book, then he is. But if you think being "conservative" means holding onto the core dogmas of the Church at all costs, he’s that too.
It’s going to be a wild ride watching him navigate these two worlds. He isn't interested in being a puppet for either side. He’s too "restless" for that.
If you really want to understand his direction, stop looking at the "conservative vs. liberal" labels used in the 6 o'clock news. Instead, look at his Augustinian roots. He’s looking for unity in a very divided world. Whether he can actually achieve that without alienating everyone is the $64,000 question.
For now, the best way to track his "leanings" is to watch his actions in the Global South. That’s where his heart is, and that’s where the real future of the Church is being written. Don't expect him to play by American political rules; he’s playing a much longer game.