A New Papacy of Hope
- Kathleen J Rusnak
- May 15, 2025
- 1 min read
“A New Papacy of Hope”
As a clergy member of the mainline Christian community, I applaud the election of Pope Leo XIV, viewing it as a welcome and timely shift in the Vatican’s approach to Israel. This change comes at a crucial moment when Israel faces widespread criticism and demonization due to its war with Hamas. The result has been a dramatic rise in antisemitism—a global intensification unmatched since the lead-up to World War II and the Holocaust.
Pope Leo XIV offers a refreshing perspective, describing Israel as “a moral project within history” and committing his papacy to deepening Catholic-Jewish relations. At the same time, he rejects the popular binary narrative that casts Israel as the oppressor and Palestinians as the victims, making it clear that he does not support Hamas.
My hope is that this influential Christian voice will help restore reason and truth in a Western world swayed by Middle Eastern anti-Israel ideology and propaganda. Pope Leo’s loving administration provides a beacon of hope, drawing the world back from hostility towards Israel and the Jewish people and into the harmony that has been the goal for so many years.
The accompanying article provides an overview of the pope's solid background and deeply rooted theological convictions.
May his election be a blessing to Israel and serve as a powerful Christian voice to challenge anti-Israel sentiment within mainline Christianity.
