OTTAWA—Prime Minister Mark Carney was on the election campaign when the late Pope Francis died last month, unable to attend the funeral of a man who deeply inspired him.
Now Carney — Canada’s 11th Catholic prime minister — is mid-transition into a minority Parliament and may be unable to attend the installation of the American-born Robert Francis Prevost who replaced Francis on Thursday.
The Prime Minister’s Office has blocked off a few days to go in case it would be possible, but Carney’s office said Thursday it is too early to say.
The newly-elected prime minister has not yet named senior staff or sworn in a new cabinet ahead of the May 26 return of Parliament and a royal visit by King Charles who has agreed to read Carney’s governing road map in the Speech from the Throne on May 27.
In a statement posted to X, formerly Twitter, Carney wrote: “I offer my prayers and best wishes to His Holiness Pope Leo XIV on his election, a historic day for Catholics and all who look to the Vatican for guidance. At a time of global challenges, may his pontificate carry forward a mission of solidarity, compassion, and dignity for all.”
In an official statement, Carney added: “Canada looks forward to working with His Holiness to build a world guided by solidarity, justice, and sustainability.”
A ceremonial mass to install a new pope is generally held about a week after a conclave selects the new Bishop of Rome who will head the Catholic Church.
For Carney, it would be a political and personal moment of inflection.
As prime minister, Carney has committed to carrying on the project of reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples — who are trying to reset relations with both the Crown and the church, as they also seek to reclaim certain Indigenous artifacts held in Rome, and redress for abuse at the hands of clergy.
One of 10.8 million Catholics the census documented in Canada, the 60-year-old prime minister regularly attends mass at St. Joseph’s Church in Ottawa, gave up sugar for Lent, and was so moved by Pope Francis’ words on the difference between markets and humanity that they framed the beginning and end of Carney’s book Value(s).
Carney, a former central banker, wrote that Pope Francis once told a gathering to discuss the future of the market system, which he attended in Rome, that humanity is many things: “passionate, curious, rational, altruistic, creative, self-interested,” but the market is one thing: “self-interested.”
Carney’s book makes clear he took the pope’s challenge — to value all things — to heart.
Yet one of Carney’s big challenges as prime minister may be to convince the other American casting a long shadow over global politics, U.S. President Donald Trump, that those values should be embraced.
Carney’s second chance to persuade Trump could come in Rome.
In raw political terms, Thursday’s ascension of Cardinal Prevost to Pope Leo XIV was a long shot — a come-from-behind story at a time when Trump recently mused he’d be his own number one choice to become pope.
After the conclave elevated Prevost on Thursday, Trump posted congratulations on his Truth Social media platform.
“It is such an honour to realize that he is the first American Pope. What excitement, and what a great honour for our country. I look forward to meeting Pope Leo XIV. It will be a very meaningful moment!”
So if Trump heads to Rome, along with many other global leaders expected to attend, will Carney choose a quick trip?
Carney may find in Pope Leo a fellow political traveller, while Trump may soon find himself at odds with the new leader of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics.
Just two months ago, the new pope, a former missionary who served two decades in Peru, posted on X an article in the National Catholic Reporter that expressed disagreement with the views of Trump’s Vice-President JD Vance about the existence of a biblical hierarchy of love and responsibility — or order of charity — in the world.
“JD Vance is wrong: Jesus doesn’t ask us to rank our love for others,” the headline read.
Conservative party Leader Pierre Poilievre also posted his congratulations on X, writing the Catholic Church “works within and beyond its walls to advance the common good, carrying on Christ’s ministry to help the poor, the vulnerable and all who suffer.”
He said that he hopes the selection of the first pope from North America “will be particularly meaningful for Canadian Catholics. May his tenure as Supreme Pontiff help lead the Catholic Church to renew the faith of its members, and help promote peace, justice and truth throughout the world.”
Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request.
There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again.
You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply.
Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page.
