Pope Leo Puts The Brake On Church Reforms

In a new book about Pope Leo XIV published first in Peru, the US-born pontiff told the author he share his predecessor's desire to welcome everyone to the Catholic church, but not because they 'are or are not of any specific identity' (Credit: AFP)

Pope Leo XIV sought to reassure Catholics in his first interview published Thursday that he would not change key doctrine on gay marriage and women deacons, after his predecessor's divisive papacy.

The US-born pontiff, elected four months ago, struck a different tone to outspoken Pope Francis, whose attempts to open the Church for the modern era enraged traditionalists.