Pope Leo XIV: A Historical Homage with a Modern Mission

Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost’s choice to adopt the name Pope Leo XIV intentionally references the legacy of Pope Leo XIII, who championed workers’ rights in the late 19th century. This naming may reflect a contemporary commitment to engage with modern social issues, mirroring the balancing act of bridging tradition and progress in the Church.

Pope Leo XIV has made headlines with his name selection, which directly invokes the legacy of Pope Leo XIII, who served from 1878 to 1903. According to Matteo Bruni, a Vatican spokesman, the choice resonates due to Leo XIII's substantial role in helping the Church transition into modernity while addressing the socio-economic challenges of his time.

Pope Leo XIII is particularly remembered for his encyclical “Rerum Novarum,” published in 1891, which ardently defended the rights of workers to fair wages, setting a foundational tone for the Church’s modern social teachings. David I. Kertzer, a Brown University professor, remarks that Leo XIII sought to establish a connection between labor interests and capitalism amid growing socialist movements, marking him as a pivotal figure straddling both pre-modern and modern church influences.

Kertzer suggests that Pope Leo XIV’s name choice reflects a similar aim of moderate reform, attempting to maintain continuity with the prior papacy led by Pope Francis, while also embracing the need for addressing contemporary socio-economic concerns. According to Northwestern University professor Robert Orsi, the connection to Leo XIII may foreshadow an active engagement by Pope Leo XIV with labor issues and the dynamics of the modern world, potentially echoing the authority and compassion demonstrated by his namesake during the industrial revolution.

The symbolic nature of the name Leo XIV serves not only as a nod to history but also as a signal of the new pope’s intent to engage meaningfully with societal challenges facing the Church today, suggesting an era of thoughtful leadership as the Catholic Church navigates the complexities of an evolving world.