When the white smoke rose and the name โLeo XIVโ echoed from the Vatican balcony, it marked more than a historical firstโan American on the Chair of Peter. It also ushered in a moment of reckoning and opportunity for the global evangelical community.
For too long, the relationship between Catholics and evangelicals has been painted in binaries: doctrine versus spirit, tradition versus innovation, Rome versus the rest. But Pope Leo XIVโs first wordsโrooted in peace, spoken in the language of the margins, and cloaked in the symbolism of social justiceโinvite a deeper reflection: Is this a time to collaborate, not just coexist?
The answer, I believe, is yes.
More than a papal moment
Evangelicals may not see the election of a pope as the work of the Holy Spirit in the same way Catholics do. But they should pay attention. Pope Leo XIV brings with him a pastoral heart formed in Latin America, a theological imagination rooted in justice, and a clear desire to bridge divides. He is not just the bishop of Romeโhe is a global Christian leader whose vision will shape the broader Christian witness for years to come.
Evangelicals and Catholics are not as far apart as many assume. We both proclaim the Gospel. We both uphold the authority of Scripture. And we both weep over a world wracked by war, inequality, and spiritual hunger. These are not merely Catholic concernsโthey are kingdom concerns.
Shared ground on justice and mercy
The choice of the name Leo is not incidental. It evokes Rerum Novarum, the 1891 encyclical that birthed Catholic social teachingโa vision for human dignity that evangelicals, especially those shaped by the Micah 6:8 tradition, would do well to revisit.
This popeโs prioritiesโpeace, unity, inclusionโare deeply resonant with the evangelical mission to โmake disciples of all nationsโ (Matthew 28:19). If Leo XIV leads the Church to the margins, evangelicals are already there. If he speaks of the dignity of the poor, evangelicals have long built hospitals, schools, and missions to serve them.
The work is already happening. The question is whether we can work together.
Evangelicals versus Catholics?: From suspicion to solidarity
Letโs be honest: suspicion still runs deep. Many evangelicals see the Vatican as a symbol of religious bureaucracy. Many Catholics see evangelicals as loose cannons. But if we remain locked in old debates while the world burns, we miss the heart of the Gospel.
Pope Leo XIV may wear the traditional papal vestments, but he seems to carry the radical compassion of Christ. His embrace of tradition is not a wall, but a doorwayโfor conversation, for collaboration, for shared mission.
This is not about compromising beliefs. Itโs about embodying the prayer of Jesus in John 17: โthat they may all be one.โ
Catholics and Evangelicals: The path forward
So how should evangelicals respond?
First, by prayingโfor Pope Leo XIV, for the Catholic Church, and for wisdom in discerning shared missions.
Second, by engagingโthrough local partnerships, joint advocacy on poverty and peace, and theological dialogue rooted in humility and love.
And finally, by proclaimingโthe Gospel of Jesus Christ, not in competition but in complement with those who follow the same Lord under a different ecclesial roof.
The world is watching. And maybe, just maybe, this new chapter in Rome is a divine nudge for evangelicals to stop standing on the sidelines and start walking side by side.
After all, the harvest is plentifulโand the workers, Catholic and evangelical alike, are few.
Antonio Manaytay is a pastor, writer, and advocate for Christian unity and social justice. He contributes regularly to cultural dialogues and works with grassroots communities in the Philippines.
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