As celebrated in St. Peter's Square, a white and red man stepped onto the cathedral's balcony, prompting the square to cheer.

As he will now be known, is the American Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost: Pope Leo XIV. May 8, 2025 - The day after Pope Francis' death - Cardinal College chose him to lead the Catholic Church.

In the days to come, people may get tired of the first few minutes of Pope Leo’s videos analyzing everything from his costume and multilingual speeches to his chosen name of the pope. Appearing on the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica is the Pope's first appearance - a symbolic tradition.

I am a scholar who studies Roman Catholic theology and history. I am particularly interested in the way the Pope exercises authority and leadership, including the use of symbols.

When Francis first appeared on the balcony in 2013, he used four aspects of the ceremony to convey information about his intentions for the pope. Leo also adapts to the symbol of the ritual - time will speak out his intentions.

What is the name?

Since the 6th century AD, the new bishops of Rome have often been named after new names. Jorge Mario Bergoglio chose the first pope "Francis" to do so.

It refers to Francis of Assisi, an Italian saint who lived in the early 13th century and was known for his simplicity, poverty, care for the earth and the desire to imitate Jesus. These characteristics proved to be the core of his pope over the next 12 years.

Prevost chose "Leo", making him the 14th Pope with this name.

Which Leo did the new pope call his role model? Probably more than one. However, one of the most important Pope Leo is the most recent. Leo XIII was the Pope from 1878 to 1903 and is remembered for his writings on social justice, economics, politics and labor that have rooted Catholic social teaching for more than 100 years.

The Lion King XII was also considered for promoting the important medieval theologian and saint Thomas Aquinas as a model of Catholic theology and its response to the modern world.

Not the king

On the balcony, Francis wore a simple white papal outfit, rather than the more refined ornaments worn by some of his predecessors. He walked through the old, simple cross, not a new, more luxurious cross.

The Pope has worn white clothes, a symbol of their centuries. But many of them also use symbols of monarchy, such as the headdress or crown of the triple pope. Pope Paul VI was the pope of 1963-1978 and was the last person to wear a headdress and coronation. The following year, he sold the crown and donated proceeds to emphasize the church’s commitment to the poor.

Later, the pope followed Paul's example of avoiding royal symbolism, such as the use of "Sedia Gestatoria", a portable throne that traditionally carried the pope in formal parades. Francis further adopted this trend, making the simplicity of his dress and lifestyle a hallmark of his time in office.

When he appeared on the balcony, Leo wore "Mozzetta", a short cloak, and returned to the tradition of the pope before Francis, and when he accepted the office, the Golden Cross offered the pope, showing more continuity with his predecessor.

Bishop of Rome

When Francis first spoke to the crowd of St. Peter, he described himself as the new bishop of Rome.

In Catholicism, the Pope holds many titles representing the scope and duties of his office. First, he was not only the spiritual leader of the Roman Catholic Church, but also the "Soge of the Vatican State".

In terms of religious titles, some have emphasized the authority of the pope. For example, “Christ’s Pastor” means that He is the representative of Jesus on earth. Others, such as “Servant servants” (“Servant of God’s servants”) emphasize his support as a support for other bishops and ministers of the Church.

Francis certainly did not deny the traditional authority of the Pope's office. However, he chose to identify himself first as the local bishop of the Roman diocese, emphasizing how the pope was the first part of the local community. In the official Vatican yearbook in 2020, Francis listed his only title as "Biography of Rome" and the rest of the names as "historic".

When the new Pope Leo spoke to the crowd, he described himself as "Peter's successor", the first pope. Like Francis, he also referred to the Pope's role as "Roman Bishop", citing the early church theologian St. Augustine: "To you, I am a bishop, and I am a Christian with you." This first identified him as a fellow Christian - in this sense, not only the leader above his flock.

Pray for me'

Francis asked the gathering crowd to pray for him, and then he offered his first pope blessing.

Traditionally, the Pope's first appearance will bring blessings to those who gather in St. Peter's Square. Francis accepted the ceremony and reversed it. In his view of simplicity and his role as a Roman bishop, he emphasized his interconnectedness with the people. He underscores the view of the Pope as a hierarchical ruler above the people.

Leo ended his speech in Latin with traditional blessings to the crowd and “sents to the city and the world.” He didn't ask like Francis did, and the crowd blessed him first.

In some ways, the symbolic message of Leo seems to be “I am not Francis,” emphasizing his continuity with the former Pope. However, in his speech, he clearly praised and thanked Francis, and invoked his predecessor’s emphasis on “synchronization”: the church where all Catholics walk together. He repeated Francis' message that Christian messages should appeal and include all.

Perhaps it would be best to say that Leo's first appearance on the balcony means: "I'm not Francis, but Francis' vision will continue."

This is an updated version of the article originally published on May 6, 2025. The article was updated on May 8, 2025 to reflect the election of Pope Leo XIV.