Cincinnati’s new Archbishop Robert Casey spoke exclusively with WLWT, the Catholic leader’s first time taking questions since Pope Leo XIV was elected.Casey is the highest-ranking leader of the Catholic churches in our area. He said the pope’s message of peace and unity shows the stability of the church and that an unprecedented American pope brings some new insight. A five-hour drive south of the pope’s hometown sits the Archdiocese of Cincinnati.”He brings the head and the heart that the church will benefit from at this time,” Casey said.Casey said he was surprised to see the first American pope in the church’s history.But change can serve as a message.”Opening our eyes to see that anybody can find their way to leadership of the church. That it’s not exclusive to the Italians, it’s not exclusive to the Europeans,” Casey said.Three months ago, Pope Leo shared an article from a Catholic website criticizing Vice President JD Vance, who suggested Christians prioritize loving people close to them before those from the rest of the world.Casey was asked if he expects Leo to continue speaking on issues like immigration.”I think sometimes people would like to see a separation of church and state. However, church exists within the state. We are a part of this world. And so as church, we do need to have a voice in how we care for one another, how we recognize each other’s human dignity,” Casey said.Casey and Pope Leo are both from Chicago, but they don’t know each other. However, when Casey goes to the Vatican in late June, he said there will be some Chicago banter.”I don’t share his same devotion for the White Sox, but I know that we’ll definitely be talking about Chicago pizza or Chicago hot dogs,” Casey said. “I’ve been in Chicago while he’s been in Chicago, but it’s a big city, and so our paths never crossed. I’ve just heard of him and I’ve heard of him through people that have met him, I’ve heard of him through his Augustinian community and from what I’ve heard of him, he’s a good man, a holy man.”Casey spoke on the idea of theological unity. “When we try to kind of divide ourselves into camps and say, well, which part of the church do you belong to? Well, I belong to the church and I follow Christ Jesus, that’s who I follow. It doesn’t matter which YouTuber that I kind of watch on a daily basis, who those social media influencers are, ultimately it comes down to being called into this unity that we share through Christ Jesus,” Casey said.
Cincinnati’s new Archbishop Robert Casey spoke exclusively with WLWT, the Catholic leader’s first time taking questions since Pope Leo XIV was elected.
Casey is the highest-ranking leader of the Catholic churches in our area. He said the pope’s message of peace and unity shows the stability of the church and that an unprecedented American pope brings some new insight.
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A five-hour drive south of the pope’s hometown sits the Archdiocese of Cincinnati.
“He brings the head and the heart that the church will benefit from at this time,” Casey said.
Casey said he was surprised to see the first American pope in the church’s history.
But change can serve as a message.
“Opening our eyes to see that anybody can find their way to leadership of the church. That it’s not exclusive to the Italians, it’s not exclusive to the Europeans,” Casey said.
Three months ago, Pope Leo shared an article from a Catholic website criticizing Vice President JD Vance, who suggested Christians prioritize loving people close to them before those from the rest of the world.
Casey was asked if he expects Leo to continue speaking on issues like immigration.
“I think sometimes people would like to see a separation of church and state. However, church exists within the state. We are a part of this world. And so as church, we do need to have a voice in how we care for one another, how we recognize each other’s human dignity,” Casey said.
Casey and Pope Leo are both from Chicago, but they don’t know each other. However, when Casey goes to the Vatican in late June, he said there will be some Chicago banter.
“I don’t share his same devotion for the White Sox, but I know that we’ll definitely be talking about Chicago pizza or Chicago hot dogs,” Casey said. “I’ve been in Chicago while he’s been in Chicago, but it’s a big city, and so our paths never crossed. I’ve just heard of him and I’ve heard of him through people that have met him, I’ve heard of him through his Augustinian community and from what I’ve heard of him, he’s a good man, a holy man.”
Casey spoke on the idea of theological unity.
“When we try to kind of divide ourselves into camps and say, well, which part of the church do you belong to? Well, I belong to the church and I follow Christ Jesus, that’s who I follow. It doesn’t matter which YouTuber that I kind of watch on a daily basis, who those social media influencers are, ultimately it comes down to being called into this unity that we share through Christ Jesus,” Casey said.
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