Vatican City
—
Pope Leo XIV
mentions he selected his papal name as a tribute to the
Catholic Church
‘s last Leo, who stood as a source of stability and guidance during the industrial revolution.
The
newly-elected American pontiff
told the College of Cardinals on Saturday that Pope Leo XIII’s ability to help the Christian faith maintain its values and moral center amid a complete upheaval of global society is a major inspiration for his pontificate.
“The selection of Leo as a name has various explanations; however, primarily it was due to Pope Leo XIII’s influential encyclical Rerum Novarum, where he tackled the social issues arising from the first major Industrial Revolution,” explained Leo XIV to the assembly.
Leo XIII was the last pope of the 19th century, reigning from 1878 to 1903. He is often credited with serving as a midwife for the Catholic Church into the modern world amid political turbulence and competing visions for restructuring the global economy and systems of labor.
Rerum Novarum, whose Latin title means “Rights and Duties of Capital and Labor,” was a landmark encyclical that rejected both
socialism
And unrestrained capitalism as moral frameworks for economic practices. It supported the rights of organized labor, the sanctity of private ownership, and the paramount significance of aiding the underprivileged.
Pope Leo XIV made clear that he sees immense value in Leo XIII’s school of thought as the world undergoes another, even more destabilizing revolution — the digital age.
“In our own day, the Church offers to everyone the treasury of her social teaching in response to another industrial revolution and to developments in the field of artificial intelligence that pose new challenges for the defense of human dignity, justice and labour,” he told the cardinals.
In his early speeches and self-presentation, the role that Pope Leo XIV aims to assume as the head of the Church is emerging more clearly—a leader who seeks to replicate the achievements of Pope Leo XIII by guiding this venerable institution through the challenges of the 21st century, serving as a beacon for those adrift.
“In a particular way, God has called me by your election to succeed the Prince of the Apostles,
and has entrusted this treasure to me so that, with his help, I may be its faithful administrator for the sake of the entire mystical body of the church,” he said yesterday in
His initial sermon as Pope
He has acted with the purpose that she might become increasingly a city established on a hill, an ark of deliverance navigating through the tides of history and a lighthouse illuminating the shadowy nights of our world.
Pope Leo XIV is still adjusting to wearing the Fisherman’s sandals. However, initial indications suggest that he is a more structured, formal, and conventional leader than his predecessor.
Pope Francis
, renowned and frequently applauded for his casual demeanor and simplicity.
Although altering one’s name typically does not influence longevity significantly, it is important to mention that Leo XIII had the third longest papal reign ever, lasting for 25 years. Only Popes Pius IX and St. Peter served longer terms among all popes.
At just 69 years old, Leo XIV is quite youthful for a pope, making him seem vigorous and energetic. He has a high likelihood of serving for many more decades in his position.
POPE LEO XIV CELEBRATES HIS INITIAL MASS AS THE LEADER OF THE CHURCH, ENCOURAGES SPREADING FAITH TO COMBAT ‘DIMINISHED SIGNIFICANCE’
One amusing fact about Pope Leo XIII for contemporary audiences could be his well-documented fondness for wine spiked with cocaine, which was a common beverage during that era and was also appreciated by figures like US Presidents William McKinley and Ulysses S. Grant.
Pope Leo XIII went so far as to present a gold medal to Vin Mariani, the company responsible for his favorite beverage. The corporation utilized his image in their promotional materials, highlighting the pontiff’s approval.
