Pope Leo XIV attends a meeting with jubilee pilgrims from the Italian region of Umbria in St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican, Saturday, Sept. 13. (Gregorio Borgia | AP)VATICAN CITY – In his first interview as leader of the Catholic Church, Pope Leo XIV talked about his concerns about income inequality, polarization and the need for peace. Already positioning himself as a pope of reconciliation, Leo reflected on the reasons behind the deep polarization in society and the church today. Shortly after his election on May 8, the pope said he took the name Leo because he was inspired by Pope Leo XIII, who addressed the stresses put on society by the Industrial Revolution in the late 18th century. In the Crux interview, Leo XIV questioned the disproportionate difference in the incomes of modern CEOs and those of their workers, and challenged the extreme wealth of billionaires – and trillionaires such as Elon Musk.