To all people of goodwill, regardless of belief, creed, or background:

With deep humility, I accept the honor of serving as the spiritual leader of the Catholic Church. Yet I do so with full awareness that the vast majority of humanity is not Catholic. Many belong to other branches of Christianity, to other world religions, or follow none at all.

Christianity itself is a tree with countless branches—Orthodox, Protestant, Evangelical, and more—and beyond it lie many thousands of faith traditions across the globe. The diversity of human belief is vast, and by sheer numbers alone, it would be arrogant to claim certainty that ours is the only path to truth. This is where faith enters—not as a claim to superiority, but as a personal commitment to a way of being in the world.

The New Testament was not written as a single, unified account. Instead, it evolved over generations, with numerous gospels, letters, and teachings circulating in early Christian communities, many of which were ultimately excluded from the canon. The gospels we now consider “official”—Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John—contradict one another on key points.

These inconsistencies suggest that the Gospels were written not as eyewitness reports, but as theological reflections—crafted by human beings, shaped by oral traditions, and adapted for different audiences. It is therefore not unreasonable to conclude that the New Testament, like all sacred texts, may be a human product rather than divine dictation.

As I reflect on the foundations of our faith, I must acknowledge another uncomfortable truth: there is no definitive historical evidence that Jesus of Nazareth existed in the way the Gospels portray him. Outside Christian scriptures, references to Jesus in contemporary Roman and Jewish sources are sparse, secondhand, and written decades later. While this does not negate faith, it does require intellectual honesty about the limits of what we can historically confirm.

As for God, I believe in Him with all my heart. But I acknowledge that His existence cannot be proven. Faith, by its nature, is uncertain. And in that uncertainty, there is room for doubt, searching, and disagreement. I will never condemn those who walk a different or no path. Each person must choose their truth in conscience and freedom.

Regarding reproductive health, it is time for honesty and compassion. Using birth control to prevent disease or unplanned pregnancies is not a sin; it is, in many cases, a moral act of care and responsibility. We must place human well-being above outdated dogma. Furthermore, a woman's right to choose an abortion must be respected as part of her autonomy over her body and her life. The decision to terminate a pregnancy is deeply personal and should not be subject to judgment or interference, but approached with empathy and support for the complexities each individual faces.

Similarly, we must shed harmful teachings that condemn people for their nature. To say that God creates LGBTQ+ individuals and then condemns them for who they are is not only illogical—it is cruel. I affirm that all people, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity, are beloved by God and entirely welcome in our community.

It is also time to end the unnatural and harmful expectation of lifelong celibacy for clergy. While some may feel genuinely called to a celibate life, it is neither realistic nor healthy to require this for those who wish to serve as priests. Denying basic human intimacy and emotional connection can lead to repression, loneliness, and in some tragic cases, abuse. Most other religious traditions allow their spiritual leaders to marry and form relationships, and so shall we. From this point forward, priests will be free to marry or pursue committed relationships, with complete transparency and dignity. Love, in its many forms, should never be treated as a weakness or a sin.

We must also look inward at the structures that have enabled injustice. The exclusion of women from full participation in the life of the Church is no longer tenable. From this day forward, women may be ordained as priests, serve in leadership at every level, and one day be elected Pope. Equality before God must mean equality within the Church.

As Pope, I carry the weight of our Church's long and often painful history. We must not hide from it. We must not excuse it. From the terrors of the Inquisition, to the forced conversions of indigenous peoples, to the silence of Pope Pius XII during the Holocaust, to the unspeakable abuse of children under our care—these are grievous wrongs. For all of them, I offer a sincere and unreserved apology.

Words alone are not enough. I am therefore directing that generous financial restitution be made to all known victims of abuse. To fund this, the Church will sell property and liquidate non-essential assets. In addition, any clergy member found to have committed abuse, or concealed the abusive actions of others, whether in the past or present, will be reported to civil authorities.

To further support this effort, I authorize the immediate release and opening of all private, sealed, and classified Church records, including Vatican archives, to independent investigators and legal authorities worldwide. No document, no name, no evidence will be hidden. The truth must come to light, and justice must be done—without exception. There will be no more shielding of predators, no more secrecy and no more complicity.

In this spirit, I extend respect to the many who identify as secular humanists, atheists, or simply as people of no religious faith. Secular humanism, grounded in reason, evidence, science, and ethical responsibility, offers profound insights. We would be wise to listen, learn, and collaborate where our values intersect—for justice, compassion, and peace.

To believe in God should never mean turning away from reason or our shared humanity. It should mean loving our neighbors, defending the vulnerable, and building a better world together.

May we all, believers and non-believers alike, walk forward with humility, courage, and a commitment to truth.

With peace,

Pope Leo XIV
Bishop of Rome

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official position or opinions of the Humanist Association of Toronto or its Steering Committee.

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