Q&A: Archbishop of Halifax and Yarmouth reacts to new pope

The Archbishop of Halifax and Yarmouth says he expects Pope Leo XIV will be concerned for the poor and people in need.

In an interview with CBC News on Friday, Dunn said he was delighted a new pope was chosen so quickly. Pope Leo XIV is the first American pope.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

What was your reaction to a new pope being elected on Thursday?

I was delighted when it came so quickly. I had expected it to be a couple of days.

Did you expect the result?

No, [but] I'm not one to say, 'Here's the one who's gonna be [the pope].'

What are the characteristics of the new pope that you want to highlight?

He's an Augustinian, so he's been a superior of a worldwide religious order and — as a result — travelled all over the world to support them and be with them. He's also spent some time in South America as a missionary and also as a bishop in Peru. These characteristics, kind of working with a world view and working with the poor, will be very advantageous for him in terms of his ministry.

What will this pope mean for Canada and Nova Scotia specifically?

We're part of the whole church and so we will celebrate the fact that he is going to be concerned for the poor, concerned for those in need. And so it will lead us to be in the same kind of way.

In terms of social issues and the political climate, what is the role for the Catholic Church?

The church is called to be in continuous relationship with the world and that really is a call to be a light and a hopeful institution ... and to be able to care for people. It's really in relationship with the world that we find ourselves. And so the pope needs to lead us in that direction.

How do you think Pope Leo XIV will handle issues like migration and human rights for Canada and Nova Scotia?

I think those certainly will be issues and concerns that he will have and that he's always had in terms of his mission and ministry in Peru — concern for human rights, concern for the poor, concern for workers and immigrants. These are the concerns that are presented by the whole of the world church, the universal church and it continues to touch Canada and Nova Scotia.

We are called as well to follow these same issues, to be concerned about immigrants, to be concerned for those who are looking for a home....  And so just as these are concerns for the universal church, these are concerns for us in Canada and in Nova Scotia.

Do you think that means continuity of the previous pope or do you think that could be different?

It's very in continuity with Pope Francis. Pope Francis had a wonderful sense of the people on the margins, people who are in need, people who needed to have their dignity acknowledged. He was always pushing that issue of making sure we're reaching out to those who are less fortunate and in need. And so that will be a part of our ministry here in Canada as well.

What is your expectation for Pope Leo XIV?

I'm very hopeful. Beginning a new ministry is always a hopeful time. Just seeing, in some sense, a young man be elected to be able to lead the church, I'm very hopeful that this is going to be a wonderful papacy.

What are the biggest challenges for the church and the new pope moving forward?

I think the biggest challenge is our connection with the world. One of the things that he brought out in his first talk to the whole church was a call to be a bridge builder. Bridge building is how we reach out to people. How do we converse with people? How do we work with people and journey with people in their own situation? And that's really the biggest call that we need to have.

Do you have any message that you would like to share with the faithful in Nova Scotia?

I would hope that we would pray for Pope Leo XIV, that he would continue to be open to God's spirit and to guide the church according to the desire of the Lord.