A New Pope; A New Hope? By Peter West

 As a traditional Catholic who's all about the Latin Mass and keeping the faith rock-solid, you're probably wondering what's up with this new Pope Leo XIV (that's Cardinal Robert Prevost) and whether he's going to slam the brakes on Pope Francis's Left-leaning moves. Let's break down what Leo's theology might look like and if he's ready to steer the Church back to the old-school faith.

Leo XIV, born Robert Prevost in Chicago, is an Augustinian priest, think St. Augustine, big on grace, sin, and keeping Jesus front and centre, all very good. He spent years as a missionary in Peru and climbed the Vatican ladder as head of the Dicastery for Bishops.

Augustinian philosophy: Leo's order is all about deep spirituality, community, poverty, and spreading the Gospel: good too. That's music to traditional ears, since it's less about trendy causes and more about saving souls.

Latin Mass Love? Leo's into "reverent worship." When he came out as Pope wearing the classic red mozzetta cape, something Francis ditched, it was like a wink to traditionalists who love the old-school pomp. No hard proof he's a TLM (Traditional Latin Mass) diehard or ready to undo Francis's crackdown (Traditionis Custodes), but his Augustinian roots hint he might lean toward a classy, sacred time. Fingers crossed for some TLM breathing room!

Sticking to the Script on Doctrine: Leo's got a reputation for being a hardliner on issues like marriage and the Eucharist. He's not down with giving Communion to divorced folks who remarry (a hot potato from Francis's Amoris Laetitia) or blessing same-sex unions. That's a big win for traditionalists who want the Church to hold the line on sexual morality and sacramental rules.

Poor Folks and the Law: Leo's time in Peru and his soft spot for Venezuelan migrants show he's got a heart for the downtrodden, like Francis. But he's not just waving the social justice flag, he talks up the "rule of law" too. So, expect charity with a side of order, not the free-for-all some trads worried Francis was pushing. That's ok.

Worldly but Orthodox: With his Peruvian citizenship and American roots, Leo's got a global outlook. Traditionalists might like that he could stand firm on Catholic truths against wishy-washy Western trends, but his ties to Francis's crew (like appointing women to Vatican roles) mean he's not a full-on traditionalist warrior.

Is Leo Going to Undo Francis's Leftism?

Francis ruffled traditionalist feathers of people like me, with moves like curbing the TLM, going soft on divorce and same-sex blessings, and harping on climate change over moral heavy-hitters like abortion. Here's how Leo might tackle that "Leftist agenda":

Latin Mass Comeback? Francis put the TLM on lockdown, saying it was being used to diss Vatican II. Leo's traditional flair (that red cape) suggests he's friendlier to the old Mass than Francis was. He might not rip up Traditionis Custodes entirely, but could loosen the reins, maybe letting priests offer TLM more freely like Benedict XVI did. Don't hold your breath for a total pre-Vatican II revival, though, Leo seems like a unity guy.

Cracking Down on Fuzzy Doctrine: Francis's green light for Communion in messy marriage situations and same-sex couple blessings (Fiducia Supplicans) had traditionalists clutching their rosaries; this Catholic lad did. Leo's reportedly against both, so he might tighten the rules, think clear "nope" to those practices or at least some firm guidelines to stop the confusion. That'd be a big nod to traditionalists who want doctrine crystal-clear.

Shifting Gears from Social to Moral: Francis was all about climate change and migrants, whichdrowned out pro-life or family talk. Leo's more likely to pump the brakes on eco-warrior stuff and spotlight classic Catholic issues, defending babies and traditional marriage. His Peru days show he'll still care about the poor, but with a conservative twist that traditionalists in places like the U.S. (where over half of Catholics backed Trump in '24) might vibe with.

Synodality on a Leash: Francis's push for "synodality" (letting local churches have more say) upset traditionalists who feared it'd water down the faith. Leo, having vetted bishops for the Vatican, seems like he'd keep a tighter grip on things. He might scale back the synod party to make sure everyone's singing from the same hymnbook.

Cleaning Up Scandals: Traditionalists weren't thrilled with how Francis handled the abuse crisis. Leo's had some heat himself in Peru over misconduct cases, so he might double down on transparency to rebuild trust, something traditionalists would cheer if it makes the Church look morally legit again.

Leo's sounding pretty trad-friendly, but here's why you might not want to pop the champagne just yet:

Francis's Shadow: Most cardinals voting for Leo were Francis picks, so he's not going torch everything Francis did. His Vatican work under Francis show he's not out to start a trad-revolution.

Balancing Act: The Church is growing in conservative spots like Africa, but Leo's going to keep Western progressives from getting upset. His "let's walk together" talk means he might compromise to avoid a Church split, which could annoy hardcore traditionalists like me.

For a traditional Catholic who loves the Latin Mass and wants the Church to stand firm, like this writer, Pope Leo XIV looks like a breath of fresh air after Francis. His Augustinian heart, no-nonsense take on marriage and sexuality, and traditional swagger (red cape) point to a theology that's got your back on doctrine and reverence. He's likely to dial back some of Francis's progressive stuff, maybe easing up on TLM bans, clarifying messy moral rules, and focusing on faith over green politics. That's all good.

But don't expect a trad paradise. Leo's got to juggle a Church that's half traditionalist, half progressive, and his Francis-era baggage means he won't go full Latin Mass warrior. Keep an eye on his first moves, things like TLM policies or statements on marriage will tell you how far he's ready to roll things back.

Overall, I am happy and wrote this piece after a few good red wines, so forgive me if the tone is not my usual dead pan serious and depressing take. It is good to feel happy for a change!