As the Archbishop of Toronto becomes a cardinal, some praise his humility. Others say he's out of touch

Pope Francis is presiding over a solemn ceremony in St. Peter's Basilica in Rome on Saturday, creating 21 new cardinals — known as the "princes of the church" — and adding them to the highest rank below the Pope in the Roman Catholic hierarchy.

Archbishop of Toronto Francis Leo is among those receiving the crimson cap — or zucchetto — from the Pope and formally joining the male-only College of Cardinals.

The soft-spoken Leo, who was born in Montreal, has deep roots in parish life, believes contraception is an evil and, like most fellow cardinals, opposes women entering the priesthood. While some in the church see a remarkable humility in him, others have been discouraged by what they see as his out-of-touch views.

Leo said his nomination as cardinal in October came out of the blue.

"I was very surprised … my head is still spinning," Leo told CBC in an interview. "Pope Francis has different criteria now. [He selects cardinals from] the peripheries and not typically from big cities with large Catholic populations like Toronto, so that was part of the surprise."

Leo is the son of Italian immigrants who arrived in Montreal in the 1950s, at a time when many Italians experienced discrimination. His parents struggled to keep the family afloat, with his mother working as a bookkeeper and his father as a tailor. 

As a boy, he said, his parish church was central to his life.

"Growing up, it was a place I met friends and went to play," he said.

"It was a strong organization on both the spiritual and social levels … with wonderful pastors who cared for us. We felt safe, that this was our second home."

That experience led him to feeling called to the priesthood in his early teens, and influenced his choice to become a parish priest.

"He is remarkable for his humility, his very profound spirituality," said Canadian Cardinal Gerald Cyprien LaCroix, Archbishop of Quebec. "He's a man of prayer, a simple life and is in tune and concerned with where the church is going."

After serving in parishes throughout Montreal, Leo entered the Holy See's diplomatic service. He returned to the Grand Séminaire de Montréal, where he was ordained, teaching theology, with a focus on Mariology, the Christian study of Mary — believed to be the mother of Christ.

"Mary is a role model for everyone, especially women," Leo said. "She was at the cross supporting Christ. A strong woman of deep faith who cared about others."

Catholic feminists argue the Church's doctrine of "complementarity," which emphasizes distinct but equal roles for men and women, reinforces patriarchal traditions that have kept women out of leadership roles.