WHEELING – The Most Rev. Mark Brennan, Bishop of the Wheeling-Charleston Diocese, believes newly elected Pope Leo XIV will continue the commitment of the Catholic Church to social justice based on his name choice and hopes Catholics can rally around him as the new leader of the church.

The conclave selected the Chicago-born Robert Prevost in just over 24 hours on Thursday. Brennan remarked that not only was the conclave quick, but Pope Leo had also been in Rome for a relatively short time before being selected.

“It was quick in that he had been in Rome for not even two and a half years as the head of the office of bishops, which is like the Cabinet in the federal government,” Brennan said. “It’s a department that the pope relies on for guidance about whom to name bishops, so Pope Leo would have gotten to know a number of bishops from the conclave of those cardinals that would eventually elect the new pope.”

Brennan was surprised that an American was chosen, adding that Pope Leo was one of the few American cardinals with whom he was unfamiliar. Brennan believes one of the key factors for Pope Leo’s selection was not his country of origin but where he lived for many years and served as a minister, bishop and cardinal – Peru.

“I think the cardinals felt comfortable electing him due to his extensive experience serving in Latin America,” Brennan said. “I have visited Peru and have not served there, but I know enough about it that they’ve gone through periods with terrorism and there’s been extreme poverty in that area.”

Though cardinals may have hesitated selecting the pope from a “superpower,” Brennan noted the conclave considers not only where the pope is from but his character, experience and where he served.

“Pope Leo has been in Peru through terrorism and poverty, and is very close to his people and is not standoffish,” Brennan said. “I think that means the cardinals from all around the world felt good about choosing someone from a superpower, which they may have otherwise shied away from, for those reasons.”

Compared to his predecessor, Brennan said Pope Leo may be a little more reflective regarding how he speaks to the public than Pope Francis.

“Pope Francis has something in common with President Trump, not in the substance of their policies, but in a certain improvisational style,” Brennan said. “Francis was very open when he spoke with the media, so whatever he was thinking, it would come out. I suspect Pope Leo will be a little bit more reflective when he speaks on things.

“That’s the impression I’ve gotten from people I’ve spoken to and what I’ve read,” Brennan continued.

While he may differ in his approach to the media, Brennan believes Pope Leo will continue his predecessor’s outreach work towards the overlooked in both the church and society.

“Francis was a pastor of souls with a poetic touch that maintained the integrity of Catholic teaching with an outreach to people who are often alienated from the church or just on the margins of society,” Brennan said. “I think in his own way Pope Leo will carry on his work while their personalities may differ.”

Brennan added that Pope Leo’s choice of name was also evidence of his commitment to social justice, as Pope Leo XIII “stood up for working class people.”

“Pope Leo XIII didn’t side with the rich or the capitalists; he sided with the working-class people,” Brennan said. “Pope Leo XIII criticized both socialism and capitalism, as John Paul II did. I think the new pope, choosing Leo XIV, after Pope Leo XIII, suggests the commitment of the Catholic Church to social justice will continue.”

Beyond the Catholic Church rallying around Pope Leo nationally, Brennan noted the importance of the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston staying engaged with the community locally. He added he did not want to see the church “shrink and shrink,” with the diocese working to reach out to the unchurched and the Catholics who have “walked away from us.”

“I think the real work of the church is bringing the gospel of Christ to people and bringing them into Christ,” Brennan noted. “The Pope could have been from Africa, the Philippines or plenty of places in Europe, and he would always have our respect, love and prayers. Our real work is at a local level: to share our faith with others and not be so timid about it.”

In addition to the Catholic Church rallying around the new pope, Brennan added he was “pleasantly surprised” to see the interest non-Catholics took in the selection of Pope Leo.

“I think we’ve had popes who touch people’s lives in the sense that they are a fellow religious leader in the world, and people know his name and can often relate to him even though they’re not Catholic,” Brennan noted. “I got texts from many non-Catholic people already congratulating the church on electing the new pope and praying for him. That warms my heart that people are actually paying attention and they care.”