教宗方济各通过进步的政策,全球任命和外展重新塑造了教会, 制定了一个与过去教皇不同的新路径. Pope Francis reshaped the Church with progressive policies, global appointments, and outreach, setting a new course distinct from past popes.

美国奥斯大学教授肖恩·特里奥尔特在2026年的一项研究发现,教皇弗朗西斯与过去的教宗在政策,任命和旅行方面有很大差异. A 2026 study by UT Austin professor Sean Theriault found Pope Francis diverged significantly from past popes in policy, appointments, and travel. 研究显示, 弗朗西斯比前任更强调移民,难民,人工智能和死刑. Analyzing speeches since St. John XXIII, the research showed Francis emphasized immigration, refugees, AI, and the death penalty more than predecessors. 他加速了枢机院的全球代表,提升来自较小非欧洲教区的主教地位,缩短了圣职时间表,并优先访问监狱和庇护所而不是传统教会聚会. He accelerated global representation in the College of Cardinals, elevated bishops from smaller, non-European dioceses, shortened canonization timelines, and prioritized visits to prisons and shelters over traditional Church gatherings. 这项在圣母院罗马校园上发表的研究指出, 在继任教皇列昂十四世 (Leo XIV) 统治下这些变化将更加明显. The study, presented at Notre Dame’s Rome campus, noted these shifts will become clearer under successor Pope Leo XIV, whose more reserved style contrasts with Francis’s transformative approach.