Eric LeCompte, Executive Director of Jubilee USA was quoted in National Catholic Reporter on his reaction to the election of Pope Leo XIV on May 8th. Read an excerpt below, or the full article here.

'Floored, stunned and full of hope': Reactions to election of Pope Leo XIV

By: Brian Fraga, Brian Roewe and Heidi Schlumpf

"Eric LeCompte, executive director of the religious development group Jubilee USA Network, described Leo XIV as being "a strong voice for the Catholic Church's social mission to address poverty."

"The selection of the name of Leo XIV is a special acknowledgement of the need to support the poor and workers," said LeCompte. He added in a prepared statement that the new pope has "a strong sense of how important the global Church is to address global challenges."

Read more here.

Eric LeCompte, Executive Director of Jubilee USA was recently featured in The Globe and Mail following the election of Pope Leo XIV. Read the full article here.

Robert Francis Prevost becomes Pope Leo XIV, first American to hold papacy in Catholic Church’s history

By: Eric Reguly

Read the full article here.

Eric LeCompte, Executive Director of Jubilee USA was quoted in The Guardian following the election of Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost and his choice to take the name Leo XIV. Read an excerpt below, or the full article here.

Robert Francis Prevost becomes Pope Leo XIV as cardinals elect first US pontiff

By: Angela Giuffrida and Harriet Sherwood in Vatican City and Sam Jones

"Eric LeCompte, the executive director of the religious development group Jubilee USA Network, who advises Vatican and Catholic church leadership said he expected Leo to “follow the path that Francis set to build a more inclusive and transparent Church”.

“The selection of the name of Leo XIV is a special acknowledgment of the need to support the poor and workers,” LeCompte added.

The new pontiff will have many urgent issues to address. A priority will be to strengthen the church’s unity amid differing views and expectations within the institution and growing polarisation in the wider world.

The pontiff plays an important role on the international stage, aiming to ensure that religion does not become a faultline."

Read more here.

Washington DC –  Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost was elected head of the Catholic Church and takes the name Pope Leo XIV, on Thursday, May 8th.

Eric LeCompte, Executive Director of the religious development group Jubilee USA Network, who advises Vatican and Catholic Church leadership, releases the following statement:

"Cardinal Prevost is a strong voice for the Catholic Church's social mission to address poverty.

"As Prevost takes the name Leo XIV, he will follow the path that Francis set to build a more inclusive and transparent Church.

"The selection of the name of Leo XIV is a special acknowledgement of the need to support the poor and workers. 

"Leo XIII, the previous Pope Leo, was the author of the Encyclical Rerum Novarum which became the Church's primary teaching on the rights of workers and those who struggle for a better life and to live in dignity.

"The new Pope has a strong sense of how important the global Church is to address global challenges.

"Coming from the Augustinian religious order, Leo XIV will bring a commitment to building a world where we all have enough.

"Pope Francis followed previous Popes in establishing debt relief to address poverty as a key focus for the Church's Jubilee holy year that's taking place this year. Pope Leo XIV will continue that focus for this holy year."

Pope Francis Remembered During Meetings

Washington DC – IMF, World Bank, G20 and G7 Spring meetings concluded this past weekend.

The IMF announced an almost one percentage point cut to economic growth for the next two years while warning future forecasts could see more growth cuts.

"These meetings were full of bad news for the economy,” said Eric LeCompte, Executive Director of the religious development organization Jubilee USA Network and who monitors the IMF and World Bank. "The analysis from these meetings is the most troubling we've seen in decades.”

While developing countries pay $1.4 trillion annually servicing debt, payments of the poorest countries quadrupled in the last 10 years. According to the IMF, average incomes in the poorest 32 of those countries have barely changed in the last 15 years.

“Trade issues, aid cuts and high interest rates are increasing debt problems and crises,” added LeCompte. “Little was done at the meetings to address severe challenges for the global economy."

In statements delivered during the meetings, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent put to rest fears that the US would disengage from the IMF and World Bank.

"Bessent made many positive contributions to thie meetings,” stated LeCompte. “One of Bessent's most important statements was that the US wants to tackle global debt problems before they become crises."

As the meetings opened last week, on April 21st, Pope Francis passed away. Francis had called for debt relief to be a focus of the holy year of Jubilee 2025.

"Pope Francis was remembered at almost every gathering of world leaders throughout the week,” shared LeCompte. "We can honor the memory of Pope Francis by moving forward his calls for debt relief and creating new processes to address debt crises."

The IMF and World Bank hold their second meeting of the year in October. 

Read Jubilee USA's statement on the election of Pope Leo XIV here.

Read Jubilee USA's statement on the IMF, World Bank, G20 and US Treasury Meetings and IMFC and Development Committee Meetings here.

Read Jubilee USA's statement on Pope Francis' funeral, legacy and upcoming conclave here. 

Read Jubilee USA's statement on Pope Francis' views of IMF, World Bank and G20 Spring Meetings here.

Read Jubilee USA's statement on the G20 ministerial meeting here.

Read Jubilee USA's press release on the IMF Global Financial Stability Report and World Economic Outlook report here.

Read Jubilee USA's statement on the IMF Global Financial Stability Report here.

Read Jubilee USA's statement on the IMF World Economic Outlook report here. 

Read Jubilee USA's press release on IMF chief Kristalina Georgieva's curtain-raiser speech here. 

Read Jubilee USA's statement on the passing of Pope Francis who had focused this year's Church efforts on debt relief and IMF reform here.

Eric LeCompte, Executive Director of Jubilee USA was quoted in Reuters, where he spoke on the debt discussions had during the recent IMF and World Bank Spring Meetings. Read an excerpt below, or the full article here.

IMF-World Bank meetings end with little tariff clarity, but economic foreboding

By David Lawder, Karin Strohecker and Andrea Shalal

"Eric LeCompte, executive director of Jubilee USA Network, a faith-based nonprofit group advocating debt relief, said that the IMF's forecasts were clearly aimed at preventing market panic, even as officials in private meetings expressed concerns about new debt crises emerging.

"It was a do-nothing kind of week," LeCompte said, adding that debt discussions were inconclusive and overshadowed by tariff talks."

Read more here.

Eric LeCompte, Executive Director of Jubilee USA was interviewed by KPFA Radio to speak about the IMF and World Bank Spring Meetings and release of the IMF World Economic Outlook report and Global Financial Stability Report. Listen here (7:30-11:53).

Eric LeCompte, Executive Director of Jubilee USA was recently featured in The Policy with Leah, with Nigeria's Saban Media during the IMF and World Bank Spring Meetings. Listen and watch here (22:00-24:35).

Eric LeCompte, Executive Director of Jubilee USA was recently interviewed by The Times Radio in London, ahead of Pope Francis' funeral. LeCompte speaks on Pope Francis' leadership, dedication to poverty alleviation and enduring legacy for debt relief during the Jubilee year. Listen here (1:35:32 - 1:42:50).

Washington DC – The IMF and World Bank conclude their Spring Meetings. On Thursday, the IMF and World Bank's Development Committee met and the International Monetary Financial Committee (IMFC) met on Friday. These committees are major leadership and policy making bodies for the IMF and World Bank.

Washington DC – The funeral of Pope Francis is slated for 10:00 AM Rome time on Saturday, April 26th. Vatican experts expect the conclave or election process of the next Pope to begin on May 6th.

Eric LeCompte, Executive Director of the religious development group Jubilee USA Network, who advises Vatican and Catholic Church leadership, releases the following statement:

"Pope Francis decided that his funeral should be simpler than the past funerals of Popes.

"Francis wants us to remember him as someone who lived by example as an advocate of the poor and our planet.

"His legacy is embodied in the sacred messages of the Jubilee Year to set captives free and use debt relief to end poverty and protect the environment.

"When ever I was with Francis, he was laughing and telling jokes. He teaches us to try to confront life's greatest challenges with joy and love.

"I believe Francis to be the greatest and most popular world leader of our time.

"We should have a new Pope by May 10th.

"We will have a new Pope that shares the vision of Pope Francis.

"Pope Francis was the first Pope who was everyone's Pope. He was a Pope claimed by all faiths and those who felt alienated by faith."

Read Jubilee USA's statement on Pope Francis' views of IMF, World Bank and G20 spring meetings here. 

Read Jubilee USA's statement on the passing of Pope Francis who had focused this year's Church efforts on debt relief and IMF reform here.

Read the letter to President Trump from the US Conference of Catholic Bishops and Jubilee USA Network on following Pope Francis' Jubilee 2025 focus here.

Read Pope Francis' June Jubilee 2025 debt focus speech here.

Learn about the global Jubilee interfaith launches and December Holy See launch for Pope Francis' Jubilee 2025 call here.

Washington DC – Saturday marks the end of the Spring Meetings, where world leaders gathered as part of the IMF, World Bank and G20 meetings. Pope Francis was remembered at this week's meetings as he commented continually on global economic policies.

Eric LeCompte, Executive Director of the religious development group Jubilee USA Network who advises Vatican and Catholic Church leadership and monitors IMF and G20 meetings, releases the following statement:

"Pope Francis will be remembered as one of the greatest world leaders of our time.

"As we remember Francis, we know that he devoted his papacy to creating an economy that includes all of us and protects our planet.

"Francis was critical of IMF policies and called for major reforms of the financial system that would serve the poor, address inequality and protect the environment.

"Pope Francis dedicated this sacred year of the Church, Jubilee 2025, to debt relief and reforms of the IMF and the global economy.

"Reforming the IMF is part of key Catholic teaching that was also lifted by Popes John Paul II and Benedict.

"At the G20, IMF and World Bank meetings, the Pope's memory was celebrated at almost every gathering.

"The most important way to honor Pope Francis is for world leaders to implement his calls for debt relief and new processes that address poverty and debt in the financial system."

Read Jubilee USA's statement on the G20 ministerial meeting here.

Read Jubilee USA's statement on the IMF Global Financial Stability Report here.

Read Jubilee USA's statement on the IMF World Economic Outlook report here.

Read Jubilee USA's press release on IMF chief Kristalina Georgieva's curtain-raiser speech here.

Read Jubilee USA's statement on the passing of Pope Francis who had focused this year's Church efforts on debt relief and IMF reform here.

Read the letter to President Trump from the US Conference of Catholic Bishops and Jubilee USA Network on following Pope Francis' Jubilee 2025 focus here.