Frank Cardinal Leo was ordained as a priest in 1996. He was consecrated as Auxiliary Bishop of Montreal, the city where he was born in 1971, in September 2022. He was appointed Metropolitan Archbishop of Toronto in February 2023 by Pope Francis, and in December 2024, he was elevated to the College of Cardinals. This past June, as part of the celebrations around Italian Heritage Month, Cardinal Leo led a ceremony to bless the Villa Charities Italian-Canadian Immigrant Tribute installation in Toronto. The installation was inaugurated in November 2024 to celebrate the remarkable history of the Italian-Canadian community in the city and around country. Following the ceremony, Cardinal Leo sat for an interview with Accenti reporter Vincenzo Pietropaolo. The text has been lightly edited for clarity.
Cardinal Leo, congratulations! You are the first Italian-Canadian cardinal. I was very moved by your remarks today about new immigrants, and how we should have a prayer for them – have them in our thoughts – and how we should try and help them in practical ways. Can you elaborate on this?
Cardinal Leo: Definitely. It is crucial for us to remember our roots, our heritage. We are all of an immigrant family, and we know how difficult it was back then. But it is still very difficult for many people today. We must acknowledge that the difficulties that new immigrants today are going through, our parents and grandparents also went through. We cannot be indifferent to their pain and suffering. Like the wonderful people who provided for our relatives – welcomed them, made them feel part of the community, helped them with work and with finding a place to live – we too need to transmit to the next generation of immigrants that same solicitude, that same care, that same compassion because, ultimately, we are one human family. So, it’s important that we not forget, and that we pay back in a wonderful way the goodness that was shown to our parents and grandparents by us being open and helpful to the new generations of immigrants.
You were born at the dawn of multiculturalism in this country. And here we are, sitting in the Columbus Room at the Columbus Centre. The immigrant reality of Canada has been so embedded in our lives. But in many countries immigration is not easily accepted. People are often critical of the “other.” How can the Church lead on the issue of migration? I mean international migration in general?
Cardinal Leo: Well, on the international plane we know that the pope has never missed an opportunity to encourage all people, believers and non-believers, to open their hearts to the misery, pain, and suffering of others, especially refugees, migrants and immigrants. Locally, the church here in Toronto does a lot to help with settlement. The Diocese of Toronto is the biggest single private sponsorship entity in all of Canada. It is an important part of what we believe and what we do – to have an open heart. We need to get beyond the small-heartedness and the fears, and recognize there is good that can be done, and must be done. They are our brothers and sisters, and whenever we can help them, we need to do that.
Frank Cardinal Leo in a walkabout, at Toronto’s Columbus Centre. Photo: Vincenzo Pietropaolo.
I think it was Pope Francis, in a sense, who laid the foundation, by harkening back to the words of Pope John XXIII, when he said that the Church should be like the fountain in the piazza, where everyone may come and quench their thirst.
Cardinal Leo: That is correct, yes.
I see the Church becoming always more accepting of what we might call the “other.”
Cardinal Leo: And welcoming of people who are living through difficult situations in their countries and coming here. The Church, as a mother, opens her arms to welcome them, to nourish them with love, and respect – and even in a tangible, temporal way, help them get their life settled.
I can presume that you have an understanding of the immigrant experience because you are the son of immigrants. You grew up around and were active at the Consolata Parish in Montreal as a youth.
Cardinal Leo: Yes.
Can you talk about that a little bit?
Cardinal Leo: Certainly. As the son of Italian immigrants, I heard stories about the reality of being different, of being in a foreign country; of learning new languages and traditions, but without denying our own roots. For me, it was a wonderful opportunity to be able to grow an understanding of who I am, and to be able to reach out to others and appreciate them as well. My home parish was very close to the immigrants, which was not easy back then. We always took care of the elderly and of the children, and held to our traditions in our feasts. There was a feeling of belonging, a feeling of tradition, a feeling of family. Even though people were far from their homeland, they could still feel accepted and loved, and be part of this new community that welcomed them with open arms.
When you were active with the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, you helped organize Pope Francis’s visit to Canada, specifically among Canada’s Indigenous people. How can the Church continue to build on that relationship, especially in light of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission?
Cardinal Leo: Well, definitely the Church is at the forefront of the dialogue with the different Indigenous nations. It is a decision, a priority, for the Church in Canada to walk with Indigenous Peoples, to listen to them, to learn from them, and together, build a brighter future – recognizing the faults, but also the new opportunities that there are. I think this is a very important part of the Canadian landscape: that we do not let our hearts become cold, or closed, or a rock; but that we reach out and, whenever we can, do good and appreciate them in their culture.
Frank Cardinal Leo, Metropolitan Archbishop of Toronto, with Antonio Giorgi of TLN Media at Toronto’s Columbus Centre. Photo: Vincenzo Pietropaolo.
Could we set an example, globally, I mean, given our very unique position?
Cardinal Leo: I think so. There’s a lot of attention on the issue, and perhaps Canada is at the forefront of this process of reconciliation and walking together, and building together, a brighter future, recognizing the faults, but also going recognizing what we can build together. We need to do concrete acts, with honesty, truth, integrity and generosity.
I want to go back, once again, to the words of Pope Francis in the way he spoke about the LGBTQ community, when he said, “Who am I to judge?” It takes me back to the words of Pope John XXIII about being inclusive and opening up our hearts to everyone. Can you talk a little bit about that? Is the Church evolving?
Cardinal Leo: The Church is a mother. A mother loves her children. The Church also has a truth to proclaim and love to give. I think when we remember the example of Christ, He’s always number one. His love for us, calling us to conversion, calling us to authenticity, calling us to the truth, calling us to generosity, calling us to have the strength to love like He loves.
And to love the “other.”
Cardinal Leo: Love all people. Christ said, love each other as I have loved you. So, He’s our role model.
Villa Charities Italian-Canadian Immigrant Tribute installation at Toronto’s Columbus Centre. Photo: Courtesy of Columbus Centre.
Finally, as you know, our new pope, Pope Leo XIV, the first pope born in the United States, has declared that he is a Chicago White Sox fan.
Cardinal Leo: Yeah! [laughter].
Since you are from Montreal but are now living in Toronto, are you ready to declare if you are a fan of the Montreal Canadiens or the Toronto Maple Leafs?
Cardinal Leo: Absolutely. Absolutely.
Are you going to choose?
Cardinal Leo: [more laughter.] Both!
Spoken like a true diplomat. Thank you!
Cardinal Leo: Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Pietropaolo. God bless you. Grazie per tutto. Alla prossima. Grazie.
Vincenzo Pietropaolo, whose life’s passion has been to photograph Toronto, its people, and its buildings, has been described by Canadian Geographic as “one of Canada’s pre-eminent documentary photographers.
