Hope as a Bridge: Pope Leo XIV Between Continuity and a New Pastoral Drive for Africa

By Marco Baratto

The recent video message of His Holiness Pope Leo XIV, addressed to the Pan-African Catholic Network of Theology and Pastoral Ministry on the occasion of its third continental Congress, stands out not only for its content but also for its tone and style. It reveals a deliberate choice to balance continuity with innovation. In his address, Pope Leo XIV clearly affirms his place in the living stream of the Church's magisterium, walking in the path of his predecessor, Pope Francis, while introducing his own nuances—hints of the sober elegance and clarity reminiscent of Pope Paul VI.

From the very opening of the message, Pope Leo demonstrates his relational approach: a warm, heartfelt greeting to bishops, theologians, pastoral leaders, youth, and lay faithful alike. This is not a mere formality, but a concrete expression of that "Church as the Family of God," the central theme of the Congress. Pope Leo does not limit his words to the hierarchy or academic elite; his attention to youth and laity reflects an ecclesial vision that is inclusive and profoundly synodal, rooted in the pastoral sensitivity that responds to the lived reality of African communities.

One of the most significant aspects of the message is his decision to focus on the theological virtue of hope. Here, Pope Leo XIV shows his ability to situate himself in continuity with the recent magisterium, while also offering a discreet but incisive originality. He recalls with filial respect that three years ago, at the second Congress, Pope Francis centered his message on faith. This reference is never mere formality: the current Pontiff explicitly presents himself as a continuator of a journey, without the urge to erase the past in order to assert his own "brand." Yet, his choice to highlight hope is deeply intentional. Pope Leo suggests, almost as if in watermark, that hope is the virtue that bridges faith and charity, sustaining the Christian life even amid trials.

In this emphasis, we can detect an echo of Paul VI, particularly in his lucid capacity to read the human and social condition without lapsing into either pessimism or triumphalism. Pope Leo XIV observes, with realism, the difficulties Africa faces—crises, political instability, economic injustice, and violence that often seem to paralyze the life of communities. Yet, precisely in the face of such challenges, he powerfully recalls the Church's role as "light of the world" and "beacon of hope for the nations." This biblical imagery resonates with the pastoral line that unites the concreteness of Pope Francis with the prophetic inspiration of Paul VI's great addresses, such as those delivered during his historic visits to Africa in the 1960s and 1970s.

The heart of Pope Leo's message, however, is not limited to diagnosis or general exhortation. He offers a concrete pastoral orientation, tightly aligned with the Congress theme: "Walking Together in Hope as the Church Family of God in Africa." He develops this image by stressing two fundamental points. First, the personal dimension of faith can never collapse into individualism, because baptism makes us sons and daughters of the same Father, with real responsibility for one another. Second, the local Church must grow into a true network of support, capable of accompanying not only the faithful but also those living in the social and cultural peripheries.

This perspective reveals a deep continuity with Pope Francis: a Church that is close, concrete, built on relationships and vibrant communities. Yet in Pope Leo's tone, there is a subtle but real difference. Where Francis often surprises with vivid imagery and immediate gestures, Leo XIV favors a more reflective register, situating the Church's mission in a theologically ordered and harmonious horizon. In this equilibrium between contemplation and praxis, between theology and pastoral care, we sense the legacy of Paul VI—the Pope of ecclesiological reflection and the great conciliar synthesis brought into dialogue with concrete life.

The message closes with a clear call: unite theology and pastoral action, live what you believe. Here we find the hallmark of Pope Leo XIV's style: hope is never an abstract virtue, but becomes fruitful only when it generates concrete pastoral paths that open hearts and minds to the truth and love of God. The echo of John 10:10—"I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly"—resounds as the spiritual seal of a message that aims not at theory but at life.

In short, this video message marks a significant step in Pope Leo XIV's pontificate. On the one hand, it confirms his desire to move firmly in the wake of Pope Francis, embracing his pastoral legacy without rupture. On the other hand, it introduces his own tone—measured, orderly, and clear—recalling the synthesis and discernment of Paul VI. By placing hope at the center, Pope Leo XIV offers more than a theological reflection: he proposes a method of ecclesial governance itself, an invitation to look forward together, refusing discouragement, confident that Christ's light can truly illuminate every periphery—from Africa to the whole world.