Liberals, many of whom are not Catholic, have welcomed the election of Pope Leo XIV, formerly Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, who now becomes the first American-born pontiff in the Church’s history.
Their enthusiasm stems in part from his past criticism of President Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance, along with his reputation as a theological and political moderate. Some interpret his moderate tone as a signal that he may lead the Church in a more liberal direction; however, they may be disappointed.
While Pope Leo XIV appears to share Pope Francis’s concern for migrants and the poor, early signs suggest he remains firmly committed to Church teaching on key moral issues such as abortion, traditional marriage, and the male-only priesthood.
Like his predecessor, he is expected to extend pastoral care and welcome all individuals into the Church, including offering blessings to those in irregular situations, which is consistent with Fiducia Supplicans, the December 2023 document that permitted blessings for individuals in same-sex unions, though not for the unions themselves.
At the same time, he is also likely to uphold the Church’s clear opposition to gender ideology.
The 2019 Vatican document Male and Female He Created Them criticized gender theory as an attempt to “annihilate the nature of the human being,” and Pope Francis has repeatedly called gender ideology “a form of ideological colonization” that distorts creation and undermines the family.
As Francis put it: “It is one thing for a person with homosexual tendencies to be welcomed in the Church; it is another thing to promote gender ideology.”
In recent years, many mainline Protestant denominations in the United States have adopted increasingly liberal theological positions, including the ordination of women and LGBTQ+ clergy, performing same-sex marriages, and adopting contemporary music and worship styles.
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and the Presbyterian Church (USA) have long supported the ordination of openly gay clergy and the blessing of same-sex unions. The United Methodist Church recently lifted its bans on same-sex marriage and LGBTQ+ clergy.
Some congregations have even removed traditional Christian symbols, like the cross, to appear more inclusive. While these changes reflect an effort to align with modern cultural values, they have also caused internal divisions.
The United Methodist Church’s reforms, for example, led to the creation of the Global Methodist Church by congregations seeking to preserve traditional teachings on marriage and sexuality.
In contrast to liberalizing trends in many Protestant denominations, the Catholic Church has maintained its traditional teachings and liturgical practices, emphasizing continuity with its origins dating back to 33 AD.
While critics claim the Church is out of touch, its steadfastness has appealed to many, particularly those seeking stability amid widespread societal change.
The growing movement toward conservatism among Catholics is evident in several trends, most notably the resurgence of the Traditional Latin Mass (TLM), also known as the Tridentine Mass.
Between January 2019 and June 2021, average attendance at TLM services rose by 34%, and the number of parishes offering it increased by 27%.
Surveys show TLM attendees are overwhelmingly conservative: 77% identify as Republican, 85% believe abortion should be illegal in all cases, and 98% affirm belief in the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist.
Not only are existing Catholics gravitating toward a more traditional Church, but conversions are also rising among the general population. In 2025, the Archdiocese of Los Angeles welcomed 5,587 new Catholics during the Easter Vigil, the highest number in over a decade.
Nationwide, dioceses like Fort Worth, Texas, reported conversion increases of up to 72% from 2023 to 2024. Many of these new Catholics are young adults in their 20s and 30s, drawn to a faith that offers moral clarity and a strong sense of community.
Their decisions are often influenced by disillusionment with secular culture, the aftermath of the pandemic, and exposure to Catholic content online.
A similar trend is unfolding in the United Kingdom, where Catholicism is experiencing a resurgence among young Britons, especially men aged 18 to 34, who are drawn to the Church’s adherence to traditional beliefs.
By contrast, the national Church, the Church of England, has gone full woke, allowing clergy to enter same-sex civil partnerships since 2005, approving blessings for same-sex couples in 2023, and advancing proposals in 2024 to permit gay clergy to marry.
Alongside these changes, some Church institutions have removed traditional Christian symbols to appear more inclusive. For example, a primary school in Huddersfield removed the cross from its uniform to avoid offending non-Christian students.
As a result, the Church of England has seen a steady decline in membership. In 2013, average weekly attendance was just over one million; by 2023, it had fallen to 685,000.
Across Europe, the pattern is the same: Protestant churches continue to liberalize, with examples like a bishop in Sweden suggesting the removal of crosses from churches to accommodate Muslim visitors.
Meanwhile, Catholicism is on the rise in countries such as Austria, Belgium, Sweden, and Kosovo, with adult baptisms increasing by as much as 85% in some areas.
Analysts suggest that the Church’s structured beliefs and rituals are attracting people who are searching for stability and meaning in an increasingly secular world.
In the U.S., a growing number of young Catholic women are emerging as influential voices, blending traditional Catholic faith with conservative politics and enthusiastic support for Donald Trump.
Once dominated by evangelical Protestants, the female face of conservative politics now includes Catholic social media influencers like Isabel Brown and Jayme Franklin, as well as staffers at pro-Trump institutions.
These women promote a vision of Catholicism that aligns closely with Trump’s policies on abortion, religious liberty, and gender roles.
Notably, this shift toward conservatism coincides with the death of Pope Francis and the election of Pope Leo XIV, placing the Church at a crossroads between progressive and conservative futures.
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