The election of the first American pontiff may seem a world away from Australian politics, but the influence Pope Leo XIV brings to soft power in the Pacific and Southeast Asia could deliver substantial strategic gains for Western democracies.
China has asserted itself into the economic, military and social aspects of these regions, while Australia and the US have been criticised over the years for having dropped the ball. Now, with Chicago-born Robert Prevost becoming pope, connotations with America and its allies in the Pacific – a deeply Christian region – could be refreshed to counter China, with its deeply atheist leadership whose members are not permitted to join any religion.
Trade Minister Don Farrell, a Catholic, subtly highlights the advantage this new pope could bring. “From Australia to America – right across the Pacific, Catholic communities will no doubt be excited by Pope Leo’s appointment,” Farrell says. “Faith continues to be a powerful unifier in the Pacific.”
Sponsoring things such as rugby league teams in PNG might be a good attempt at soft power, but the influence of an American pope would be far wider reaching.
John Lee, an Australian senior fellow at the Washington-based think tank Hudson Institute, says there is a clear opportunity for the American Pope to juxtapose developed Western countries against China. “Many of the nations in our region for which we compete for influence with China are heavily Christian societies, for example The Philippines and the Pacific Islands,” he says. “So greater awareness that the government in China is deeply suspicious and intolerant of non-state-controlled religious beliefs and practices ought to be a relevant issue in what is still a largely deeply religious region.”
Lee hopes Leo will call these things out more strongly than his predecessor. “The previous pope tended to be far more critical of the advanced economy Western nations, especially America … but ignoring the far more serious human rights abuses and governance failings of some developing nations. Such papal sentiments were exploited by countries such as China.
“With better knowledge of the strengths and weaknesses of American and Western societies, I hope Pope Leo can offer a more accurate characterisation of what is occurring in the world.”
In the Solomon Islands – where China has gained significant control over everything from politicians and security agreements to local bank accounts and investments – priest Mark Yasi says he has a “special feeling” about the new Pope. However, he doesn’t think he should promote Western societies any more than he promotes faith.
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