In a controversial interview this past week, Pope Leo XIV revealed that he does not consider himself a practicing Catholic, admitting he “left the faith a while ago.”
“I mean, I was raised Catholic, but I don’t really ‘pray’ or go to Mass or anything,” Prevost said. “I just see it as kind of a pro forma thing. What with the robes and the hats… I definitely feel very attached to the faith, though.”
The 69-year-old Robert Prevost, now Pope Leo XIV, made history as the first American pope—and now, as the first Pope to also be a non-practicing Catholic.
Even before announcing his denouncement of Catholicism, the polarizing pope had already been making headlines for his political views:
“You have to understand, the original Pope Leo was around like 2000 years ago. That’s just how they talked. ‘Gay’ meant lame back then. Anyways, what was the question? No, I wouldn’t put ketchup on there. Definitely not.”
While the Vatican has yet to comment officially on the pope’s beliefs, many are left wondering what this means for the future of the papacy, as well as the Church as a whole; concerned Catholics are questioning whether a non-practicing Catholic—what they refer to as a “lapsed Catholic”—should be the head of the Catholic Church.
“I just don’t think you need to go to church or fast or whatever to be a Christian, you know? Like, that guy… Oh my God… I’m totally blanking… Jesus! He never went to church. You wouldn’t say, ‘Oh, Jesus wasn’t a Christian because he never went to church.’”
Prevost’s older brother, Louis, described him as a lifelong staunch Christian and recalled that, when he was only in the first grade, a neighbor predicted he would be the first American pope. He went on to say that if there’s a better fit for pope than his brother, god wouldn’t have elected him.
“Yeah, a little on my wedding night. Yello! No, I’m kidding. Yes, I did do a lot of missionary work. But I’m past that now.”