The 2019 movie “The Two Popes” starring Anthony Hopkins and Jonathan Pryce looks a lot dated now after the radical papacy of Pope Francis and the election of the courageous Pope Leo XIV. Today, it seems the Catholic Church is no longer caught in the battle between traditionalists and progressives.

The world remembers Pope Francis’ first death anniversary next week, with Argentinians starting the tributes and memorials in his native Buenos Aires this week. We remember him as the pope who cared for the people of Tacloban, braving an incoming storm to be with them even for a few hours. He preached mercy and compassion, and put aside imperial pomp and pageantry in favor of simplicity and frugality. He wanted a church of the poor and a church that was like “a field hospital” for the broken, wounded, forgotten.

Francis championed the protection of the environment, and presented a theological and moral basis for the battle against climate change and the capitalist exploitation at the root of it. He deployed the term “globalization of indifference” to shine a light on the barbaric treatment of civilians attacked by war, migrants, the poor, and other marginalized people. His “synodal way” presented the church as a people journeying together, and not simply directed by hierarchy. He died on April 21, 2025, Easter Monday, a day after giving his Easter blessing as veritable parish priest of the city and the world.

By his words and actions, the pope from his native Chicago and adopted Chiclayo has placed the church in a collision course with President Trump. For Leo, God does not bless unjust wars and the church cannot turn a blind eye on the attacks on civilians — a view that has attracted widespread support and admiration. Trump could not have expected that the most powerful pushback to his wars would come from an American pope.

That Bob Prevost, the future Pope Leo, acquired Peruvian citizenship while working as a missionary, is not lost on hundreds of millions of immigrants, migrants and foreign workers. It immediately establishes a kinship, and comforts many who dream of or work for, but are denied the entry/work permit, permanent residency or citizenship.

We cannot be sure why the cardinals elected Leo as successor to Francis. They would surely say the spirit moved them to elect him. It is also possible that the conservatives thought an American pope would ingratiate himself with the American president, or would have the American confidence needed at this time of dystopia. But Leo has turned out to be not that kind of American, but a terrific mix of Chicagoan, Peruvian, Augustinian and Catholic. Yes, unlike Francis, Leo could chant and sing prayers in Latin to the delight of traditionalists. But for what and for whom, the traditionalists would be hard put to say or claim it is for them or their political lords.

Here in the Philippines, many Catholic remain loyal and faithful to the church. Filipinos have always loved and adored the popes, and the popes have only good words about and for the Filipino people. We gave John Paul II and Francis the biggest papal masses in history, and the popes are grateful for Filipino lay and religious missionaries sent throughout the world. But there’s skepticism with local church leadership, especially their mixed political record. It is not exactly unfair or unfounded, given that some find it easy to justify the torture or killing of a dove, or to hide details of an accident in church, or to continue to enjoy the trappings of old traditions dating back to the time when the Catholic church was the official religion. I’m referring to civic/civil receptions of new bishops, with local officials present, and the flags of the Philippines and the Vatican raised ceremonially. I have always wondered why such outdated customs are being continued.

Many perhaps would say that Pope Francis and now Pope Leo are renewing the faith of Filipino Catholics in ways that go beyond what many local bishops could imagine and which we hope would inspire many, if not all, bishops, priests and religious. We hope to see bishops come out to speak for and be with jeepney drivers, the minimum-wage earners, the farmers, the fisherfolk, and the lower middle-class especially at this time. More than charity, they deserve social justice and champions of social justice. Surely, this is not too much to ask or to expect from the church once led by Francis and now by Leo.