In December 2025, a historic gathering took place in Vatican City, uniting Protestant bishops from Lutheran, Methodist, and Presbyterian traditions, evangelical pastors from America’s mega-churches, and Catholic cardinals from around the world. The atmosphere was charged—not with polite formalities—but with the weight of five centuries of division and the hope for genuine dialogue.

Pope Leo I 14th, the first American-born pontiff, brought a unique perspective shaped by his upbringing in Chicago’s diverse neighborhoods. He understood firsthand the Protestant emphasis on personal conscience, religious freedom, and biblical authority. Yet, he was determined to confront a question that had long been avoided: Did Jesus Christ establish one Church with living authority, or did He simply hand us a book and say, “Good luck”?

This question pierced the room’s tension. It wasn’t about worship styles or theological nuances—it was about the foundation of Christian unity and authority. The Protestant Reformation had fractured Christianity into thousands of denominations, each interpreting Scripture differently, often leading to confusion and division.

Pope Leo I 14th traced the roots of this question back to the early Church, around 50 AD, when the apostles faced a crisis: Should Gentile converts be circumcised according to Mosaic Law? Without a completed Bible or clear precedent, the apostles convened a council in Jerusalem. Guided by the Holy Spirit, they made a binding decision for the entire Church—demonstrating the exercise of authority Jesus had entrusted to His apostles.

This model of authoritative, Spirit-led decision-making preserved unity amid diversity. It avoided schisms and individualistic interpretation, emphasizing communal discernment over personal preference.

Turning to Scripture, the Pope challenged the assembly: Who decided which books belong in the Bible? The canon wasn’t self-declared but affirmed by Catholic councils like Hippo and Carthage, guided by bishops under the Holy Spirit’s inspiration. This same Church defined essential doctrines such as the Trinity and Christ’s dual nature—truths not explicitly spelled out in Scripture alone.

Here lies the paradox of Protestantism: relying on Catholic authority to receive the Bible, yet rejecting that authority when interpreting it. Every Protestant who affirms doctrines developed by Church councils acknowledges this tension.

Pope Leo I 14th then read Matthew 16:18–19, where Jesus names Peter “the rock” and gives him the keys to the kingdom—language echoing Isaiah’s description of the royal steward’s authority. This wasn’t symbolic poetry but a deliberate institution of leadership meant to guide the Church with binding authority.

He likened the Church’s authority to a Supreme Court interpreting a constitution—necessary to prevent chaos from countless conflicting interpretations. Just as America requires authoritative legal interpretation, so too does Christianity require a living Church to preserve unity and truth.

The Pope acknowledged Protestant devotion to Scripture but warned that sola scriptura has led to over 40,000 denominations worldwide, fracturing the witness of the Gospel. He emphasized that true unity, as Jesus prayed in John 17, requires a visible, authoritative Church.

Using a fruit basket analogy, Pope Leo I 14th illustrated that Catholicism embraces all spiritual gifts—faith, sacraments, evangelism, social justice—in harmonious balance. Protestantism, shaped by history, often isolates individual “fruits,” leading to imbalance.

He addressed objections about Church doctrine development, explaining that the Holy Spirit continues to guide the Church in deepening understanding, not adding new revelation. Historical councils clarified—not invented—core truths, enabling the Church to address modern ethical challenges with consistent authority.

The Pope’s tone softened as he extended compassion to Protestants and struggling Catholics alike, affirming the sincerity of their faith and inviting them to discover the fullness of truth in the Church founded by Christ.

Finally, Pope Leo I 14th posed the ultimate question: Will you choose the whole truth Jesus revealed through His Church, or settle for fragments shaped by human interpretation? He urged listeners to embrace the Church’s unity, authority, and tradition as a source of peace and purpose.

This moment was a crossroads—between division and unity, confusion and clarity, personal preference and apostolic authority. The Pope’s challenge echoes beyond Vatican walls, inviting all seekers to consider where the fullness of Christian truth truly resides.