As tomorrow marks the first anniversary of Leo XIV’s inauguration as Pope on May 18th last year, it is a good time to look at what may lie ahead in his papacy.

Aged 69 when elected, he is the youngest pope since John Paul II, who was 58 when he became pope in 1978. Leo is in good health, keeps himself fit, and should be around for quite some time.

By nature mild mannered and reserved, it is likely the world would not have witnessed so soon the depth of his moral convictions, or his courage in expressing them, but for Donald Trump; a bombastic American to Leo’s quiet American.

In a world where few leaders have publicly taken an unequivocal moral stance against aggressors such as Trump, Leo has done so without qualification, holding to account powerful personalities as they behave with impunity in imposing their will brutally and without regard to norms of decency and civilised behaviour.

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Some will say it is easy for Leo. The Vatican does not have to worry about issues such as tariffs. But he could have remained silent, as other popes did in times past as similar leaders behaved with cruelty or impunity because they could.

Another factor that could have contributed to his remaining silent is his background. On Leo’s election last year, the late conservative influencer Charlie Kirk wrote on X: “He’s a registered Republican who has voted in........

© The Irish Times