Leo XIV's three serious errors in Eastern Orthodox address
Those who flatter, mislead and even deceive the Eastern Orthodox about the peril of their situation will answer for it in eternity.
Those who flatter, mislead and even deceive the Eastern Orthodox about the peril of their situation are acting in an unjust and uncharitable way, and will answer for it in eternity.
(WM Reports) – Leo XIV welcomed a delegation of Eastern Orthodox schismatics and Catholic pilgrims from the United States on 17 July 2025, using the occasion to express a number of theological errors.
These errors constitute a serious injustice and lack of charity towards the Eastern schismatics whom he addressed.
Speaking at Castel Gandolfo, Prevost thanked Cardinal Joseph Tobin (who tweeted in 2018, “Nighty-night, baby, I love you” – allegedly to his sister) and Orthodox Metropolitan Elpidophoros for leading the “ecumenical pilgrimage,” which included visits to Rome and Constantinople.
The address took place in the ongoing context of the Council of Nicaea’s 1700th anniversary, which the Vatican plans to commemorate with Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople.
Leo XIV highlighted the shared use of the Nicene Creed, and the coincidence of Easter dates between East and West in 2025 as a “providential coincidence.” The Eastern schismatic groups generally follow the Julian Calendar, which is a based on inaccurate calculations of the movements of the sun.
Prevost referred to the 1965 Joint Declaration between Paul VI and Patriarch Athenagoras, which mutually lifted the excommunications of 1054, and emphasised the absolute novelty of an inter-religious pilgrimage between Catholics and schismatics.
“Before then, a pilgrimage like your own would probably not even have been possible,” he told attendees, and referred to it a “the work of the Holy Spirit.”
He invoked Francis’ legacy multiple times, including the motto of the current Jubilee Year, Peregrinantes in Spe (“Pilgrims in hope”), and cited the former pontiff’s Bull Spes Non Confundit, calling for unity ahead of the 2,000th anniversary of Christ’s Passion in 2033.
Doctrinal aberrations in Prevost’s speech
Since his elevation, some have expressed excitement and expectation that reunion with the Eastern schsimatics is imminent under Leo XIV. This “pie in the sky” dream may well become a reality, at least in terms of the Conciliar/Synodal Church incorporating the Eastern schismatics into itself. However, this is only possible because of the Conciliar/Synodal Church’s…
Abandonment of traditional theology and ecclesiology
Rethinking of the papacy according to a synodal model
The three particular errors in question are as follows:
A redefinition of the Church’s property/note of unity
A redefinition of the supernatural virtue of faith
A redefinition of the nature of the papacy and constitution of the Church.
These are the points which we will examine in this article.
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