Cardinal William Goh of Singapore recently expressed hope that Pope Leo XIV will bring clarity and unity to a Church often divided by doctrinal ambiguity and liturgical disagreements.
Speaking to The Daily Compass following the recent papal conclave, Cardinal Goh offered a candid assessment of the challenges facing the new pope and the expectations many hold for his leadership.
“I think Pope Leo XIV is exactly the Pope the world needs right now,” Cardinal Goh said.
Reflecting on the previous pontificate, he acknowledged Pope Francis’ efforts to evangelize the marginalized and promote the missionary nature of the Church. Still, he noted a downside: “His teachings appeared ambiguous in his attempt to reach everyone in terms of doctrine and morality.”
This perceived lack of clarity, the cardinal said, contributed to divisions across the Church, particularly on hot-button issues such as marriage and gender ideology.
“If we are not clear about what the Church teaches, it is very difficult to work together in unity,” he told The Daily Compass. He described how confusion led to members of the faithful quoting the pope to justify conflicting views, complicating the Church’s call to authentic inclusion.
“Being truly inclusive means saying: ‘yes, we understand you are struggling. That you cannot live the Gospel. We will help you; we will walk with you. It may take time. We will help you fall in love with Jesus slowly. One day, perhaps, you will come to understand,’” Cardinal Goh said.
The cardinal voiced optimism that Pope Leo XIV, drawing from his Augustinian roots and experience in both Latin America and the Roman Curia, will offer the doctrinal steadiness needed.
“He seems to me to be a man who is aware that when a pope makes comments, they are taken seriously,” the cardinal observed. “He will not be ambiguous and will not leave the interpretation of his words open to individual interpretation.”
Asked specifically about the future of the Tridentine Mass, Cardinal Goh rejected the idea of suppressing its devotees.
“Personally, I believe there is no reason to stop people who prefer the Tridentine Mass,” he said. While he does not celebrate it himself, he acknowledged a small, vibrant group in his diocese — mostly young professionals — who find it spiritually enriching.
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“Why should I stop them?” he asked, adding that such communities do not reject Vatican II and therefore “should not be discriminated against.”
“I want to vote for a Pope who is truly inspired by the Holy Spirit,” Cardinal Goh concluded. “Someone who can unite the world and walk in truth and love. I believe Leo XIV is the right man for the job.”
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