Robert Prevost had no time to make many decisions in the span of his baby pope, except for what to say on the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica, what to wear when he says, and the name of the Pope as the Pope. The final choice is the most inspiring. As novelist Laurence Sterne once wrote, Names impose "a strange magic bias" on their subject. This is especially true since Jesus told a Jewish fisherman named Simon that he would be called Peter, the rock in which Christ built the church. Many observers try to identify the politics of the new pope by his chosen name and look for the past for the Christians who share it. They may be disappointed to find that the name Leo rejects simple ideological classification. As read in the church and in world history, the name suggests something very different from pure progressivism or conservatism.
In the advancement of the meeting, most observers believe that Leo is in line with Pope Francis' legacy. Like his ex-predecessors, Leo prioritizes the poor and marginalized, especially in the global South, with Francis recently attacking his main role in Rome. However, unlike Francis, who uniquely chose a never-used pope name, Leo returned in time for more than 100 years, and also for more than 1,000 years. His choice is by no means a rejection of Francis. In fact, it seems to affirm their connection. But it also shows that in the deep tradition of the church, the new pope has devoted more to the pursuit of continuity.
After Leo concluded his opening speech at St. Peter's Basilica, a Vatican spokesman explained that his name was intended to invoke two predecessors: the last Leo and the first. When viewing the gravestones of Leo XIII and Leo I, three themes emerge: a clear focus on the poor and oppressed, a renewal of the global life of the church through solidarity and tradition, and a sacred challenge to secular power.
Leo XIII reigned from 1878 to 1903, and his encyclopedia is most remembered Revolutionary or About capital and laborfirstly describes the contemporary world as "a very rich man who can lie on a large mass of working poor, which is a little better than slavery itself." In this reality, Leo XII affirms the workers' right to obtain living wages, forms and strikes. This seems self-evident, and is even now paternalistic, but in the late 19th century, it was not the case. Revolutionary In this world, the pope support for the weak is the main support for the weak, which is different from us: characterized by increasing inequality, limited workers' rights and severe working conditions. The encyclopedia also launched modern Catholic social teaching, and later several popes Their teaching in Leo XIII's works lays the foundation.
But Leo XIII is more than just a reformer. By another encyclopedia Eternal Fatherhe helped restore traditional scholarly philosophy and elevated the teachings of the medieval theologian St. Thomas Aquinas to be peculiar in the church. Lion XIII also protested against lay Catholics with conservative American bishops, who tried to establish a larger religious dialogue in the United States.
The new Leo (the first American pope in the church) may have a different role in American Catholicism in public life. In February, an account on X appeared to belong to Prevost, sharing an article about Catholic Vice President JD Vance, who recently cited theological concepts The order of love As a reason to prioritize the concerns of fellow people over others. In response, the profile with the name of Prevost posted the title of the article on Twitter: "JD Vance is wrong; Jesus does not ask us to rank our love for others."
The statement is in line with the teachings of the Augustinians, a centuries-old religious order led by the New Leo. The order follows the monastery rules proposed by the fourth-century theologian of Hippos, St. Augustine, which stipulates the public life of prayer and focuses on the needs of others without distinction based on national identity.
Similarly, the first Pope Leo tried to resolve global disharmony. During the reign of 440-461, various disengagement movements were splitting the church, as well as debates about Mary and her mother. Leo I am so successful in bridging several gaps between the church in Europe and Africa that he is called Leo the Great by the Catholics. Like his ancient predecessors, Leo faces a church of geopolitical division, largely divided between the West and the global South. Today, a new set of problems have caused a rift to Catholics, especially those related to the role of women in the church and the church’s ongoing efforts toward LGBTQ Catholics.
But that's true for any pope in 2025, choose any name. Perhaps the most provocative connection between Leo and the new pope goes far beyond the direct Catholic concern. In 452, Leo traveled hundreds of miles from Rome and met his life with Attila the Hun, who was in the midst of a murder campaign on the continent. Leo is said to wear the papal costume and wear the papal costume by praising his military achievements. But he also directly challenged Attila. According to ancient testimony, Leo ended the meeting with a religious request, an equally dull challenge: "Now, we pray that those who conquer others should conquer themselves." The popular legend believes that Attila's decision to oppose attack on Rome after meeting with Leo, which allowed countless lives to occupy life.
Of course, the new pope will not face such a threat, but he took office as the expansionist strongman rises around the world. Whether — or perhaps how — following his legacy in this field with the same name will help shape the future of the church and the world.