Video of 15 fake reforms imposed by Pope Leo goes viral
The Catholic Herald• July 29, 2025
A fake story claiming that Pope Leo XIV has announced 15 major reforms has garnered considerable traction across the internet. The false claim is that Pope Leo has released a document called Cor Unum (“One Heart”), which allegedly contains sweeping changes to Catholic worship and governance.
One video circulating the rumour has more than 300,000 views on YouTube. It opens with the line: “Right now, as you are watching this, millions of Catholics around the world are waking up to a Church they no longer recognise…” and claims the 15 new reforms are “not a suggestion, not a proposal but a declaration”. Misled viewers have been quick to express their approval. One commented: “I'm watching from USA. OUR Lord Almighty bless our appointed Pope Leo. I am so grateful for all the new changes we will be having in our Churches,” while another wrote: “This pope is wonderful. What amazing changes!”
Another video, generated using AI and featuring a fabricated voice of Bishop Robert Barron—founder of Word on Fire and Bishop of Winona–Rochester, USA—repeats the same 15 claims, each accompanied by an invented commentary supposedly from the bishop.
The 15 alleged changes are:
1. Vatican financial transparency;
2. Term limits for clergy;
3. Women deacons;
4. Confession replaced by communal penance services and the “decriminalisation of sin”;
5. Mandatory lay-led accountability boards for addressing sexual abuse;
6. The “dissolution” of the papal nobility, stripping several prominent Italian families of their Vatican-bestowed titles;
7. A digital synod in which lay people, including atheists, would re-write the Catechism;
8. Adaptation of the liturgy according to local cultures;
9. The sale of “non-essential luxurious Vatican properties”, including Castel Gandolfo;
10. Communion for the divorced and remarried;
11. A binding joint council with the Eastern Orthodox Churches;
12. A “mandate for scientific literacy”;
13. The abolition of the title “Vicar of Christ”;
14. The inclusion of lay voters in future conclaves;
15. A new ecumenical council called the “Senate of All People” to be attended by members of all religions, including atheists.
The videos also contain various vignettes, such as Pope Leo preventing an Italian nobleman from kissing his ring, and Cardinal Müller challenging the digital catechism, saying: “Truth is not a consensus but a revelation.” The claim regarding adaptation of the liturgy to local cultures is repeated.
These fabricated stories frame Pope Leo’s alleged motivations as a caricature of the pontificate of Pope Francis. For example, they falsely attribute to Pope Leo the line “Communion is not a prize for the perfect but medicine for the sick” in support of communion for the divorced and remarried—echoing a phrase used by Pope Francis in Amoris Laetitia. The videos also claim that several canon lawyers have publicly challenged the ruling, drawing comparisons to the dubia submitted to Pope Francis.
Since his election earlier this year, numerous fake news stories have circulated about Pope Leo. In May, a fabricated message to the President of Burkina Faso, allegedly from the Pope, was publicised by the BBC. An AI-generated video also appeared to show the Pope criticising US Senator JD Vance.