First American pope says he will not meddle in U.S. politics but will speak on immigration, abuse, LGBTQ+ welcome, and China

ROME — In his first interview as history's first American pope, Pope Leo XIV said he has no intention of involving himself in U.S. politics but will raise his voice on issues that matter to the Catholic Church, including immigration. The interview was conducted by Vatican correspondent Elise Ann Allen for a Crux biography of Leo published Thursday in Peru, where he served as bishop for many years. It covered a wide range of topics, from the Trump administration to the clergy sexual abuse crisis, the welcoming of LGBTQ+ Catholics, and Vatican-China relations.

Leo emphasized that the church welcomes all people, including LGBTQ+ Catholics, and he echoed Pope Francis’ message that todos, todos, todos are welcome. Yet he suggested it is highly unlikely that the church’s core doctrine about sexuality would change anytime soon. “Everyone’s invited in, but I don’t invite a person in because they are or are not of any specific identity. I invite a person in because they are a son or daughter of God,” Leo said. “I think we have to change attitudes before we even think about changing what the church says about any given question.” He also indicated there would be no quick changes to the Vatican’s controversial 2018 agreement with Beijing over bishop nominations; he said he is studying the issue and speaking with Chinese people “on both sides” about it. The Vatican has defended the accord against criticism that Francis sacrificed the underground faithful to secure legitimacy in Beijing, arguing the deal helped prevent a deeper schism within the Chinese church.

On the church’s handling of the clergy sex abuse crisis, Leo called it “a real crisis” that remains unresolved and acknowledged the difficulty victims face in healing. He stressed that the rights of priests must be respected as well. “Statistics show that well over 90% of people who come forward and make accusations, they are authentically victims. They are telling the truth. They are not making this up,” he said, while also acknowledging cases of false accusations that can ruin lives. He said the crisis should not become the center of the church’s life, noting his own experience helping abuse victims in Peru, even as critics — including some U.S. victim advocacy groups — have pressed him to do more for other victims. He referenced a letter Pope Francis sent to U.S. bishops earlier this year rebuking deportation plans and praised bishops for their courage in confronting policy.

Leo said he recognizes the influence of the United States on global affairs and highlighted migration as a major issue for the church. He recalled Francis’ outreach to U.S. bishops and described their response as courageous as they confront immigration policy. He indicated he is not a Trump supporter, adding that his own brother, Luis Prevost, who described himself as a “MAGA-type,” is in “different places” politically. “The United States is a power player on the world level; sometimes decisions are made more based on economics than on human dignity, and we have to continue to challenge and raise questions to find the best way forward,” Leo said.

The pope also said he intends to keep promoting women to leadership positions within the church, but did not indicate an intention to ordain women as deacons or priests. He pointed to an ongoing Vatican doctrinal office study on the issue and said he is willing to listen to people, while leaving final teaching unchanged for now.

Leo inherited a long-running financial crunch at the Vatican, including a structural deficit of about 50 million to 60 million euros and a pension fund shortfall of about 1 billion euros, pressures intensified by the pandemic when the Vatican Museums were shuttered. He said there are signs of improvement but cautioned that the crisis is not over and that “we have to continue to work on this,” adding that the church must communicate a different message while not relaxing its guard over finances.

The interview reflects a pope who seeks reform within continuity, balancing new leadership with fidelity to core Catholic teaching. It also illustrates how Leo frames the church’s response to global issues — migration, abuse accountability, and international diplomacy with China — while navigating a complex public expectations landscape. The biography is part of a broader effort to chronicle his early priorities and leadership style as the Vatican’s head moves into a new era.