Pope Leo indicated on Monday (December 22) that he plans to follow the reform agenda of his predecessor Francis, praising the late pontiff's attempts to make the global Catholic Church more inclusive in an annual Christmas address to Vatican cardinals.

Leo, the first U.S. pope, told the Church's senior-most officials that Francis, who died in April, had been a "prophetic voice" who struggled to create "a joyful Church, welcoming to all and attentive to the poorest".

Francis, who led the 1.4 billion member Church for 12 years, often used his annual Christmas speech with the cardinals to offer blistering critiques of their work.

In several lengthy speeches over the years, he listed what he called the "illnesses" and "diseases" of the Vatican's central bureaucracy, known as the Roman Curia.

Leo, who has a more diplomatic style than his Argentine predecessor, spoke for only 15 minutes and did not offer such critiques. But he did repeat many of the themes that became central to Francis' papacy.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

ATICAN CITY (DECEMBER 22, 2025) (VATICAN MEDIA - Access All)

1. VARIOUS OF POPE LEO ARRIVING TO ADDRESS THE ROMAN CURIA

2. VARIOUS OF LEO TAKING HIS SEAT

3. MEMBER OF CLERGY LISTENING

4. POPE LEO SPEAKING

5. (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) POPE LEO SAYING:

"I wish first of all to remember my beloved predecessor, Pope Francis, who this year concluded his earthly life. His prophetic voice, pastoral style and rich magisterium have marked the Church’s journey in recent years, encouraging us above all to place God’s mercy at the centre, to give renewed impetus to evangelization, and to be a joyful Church, welcoming to all and attentive to the poorest."

6. CARDINALS LISTENING

7. (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) POPE LEO SAYING:

"We then ask ourselves: is it possible to be friends in the Roman Curia? To have relationships of genuine fraternal friendship? Amid daily toil, it is a grace to find trustworthy friends, where masks fall away, no one is used or sidelined, genuine support is offered, and each person’s worth and competence are respected,

preventing resentment and dissatisfaction. Such relationships call for a personal conversion, so that

Christ’s love, which makes us brothers and sisters, may shine through."

8. CARDINALS LISTENING

9. POPE SPEAKING

10. (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) POPE LEO SAYING:

"I wholeheartedly wish you all a holy Christmas. May the Lord bring us his light and grant peace to the world."

11. CARDINALS APPLAUDING

12. LEO SHAKING HANDS WITH CARDINALS