Cardinal Robert F. on Thursday

For Catholic theologians, the importance of this name cannot be clearer, the new pope closely relates himself to the basic figures of modern Catholic social teaching, and Pope Leo XIII advocates the rights of the poor and working class who are profoundly changing economically.

Leo XIII served as Pope from 1878 to 1903, covering the Gilded Age in the United States and the Second Global Industrial Revolution.

Although the Catholic Church has long preached to caring for the poor, Pope Leo XII provided a dynamic defense of trade union organizations and workers’ rights in the classic 1891 novarum rerum novarum.

In it, he condemned the “rich owners and all masters” who tried to profit from “poverty and poverty.” His writings focus the Pope's later concentration of wealth and power on the poor, immigrants, women, capitalism, and the minority.

“Popularity after Popes made another encyclopedia to further mark the rights of the poor,” said SJ James F. Keenan, Jesuit pastor and professor of theology at Boston College. “We always have a long social tradition of the church…but until Pope Leo XII began the tradition of how the Pope dealt with the poor and the workers’ conditions.”

Some popes have explicitly paid tribute to Leo XIII's writings.

In 1931, Pope Pope Eleven released his encyclopedia, "Quadragesimo anno", or "40th anniversary", to commemorate the release of Rerum Novarum and to expand the teachings on labor, as well as the "must recognize the human dignity of workers."

Pope Paul VI's 1971 "Octogesima Adveniens" or "80th Anniversary", advocates equality and addresses youth and women. He wrote that legislation should recognize the independence of a woman as a person, as well as her equal right to participate in cultural, economic, social and political life. ”

In 1991, Pope John Paul II published the "10th percentile anniversary" or "100th anniversary of founding", writing about the devastating poverty in developing countries and the global economic, cultural and spiritual poverty, such as "consumerism."

For Keenan, the choice of “Leo” is similar and complements the choice of “Francis” of the previous pope. When former Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio was elected in 2013, he said he was commemorating St. Francis of Assisi, who is known for his dedication to poverty.

"Francis is a person who cares for the poor, serves them, raises money for them, visits them and anoints them," Keenan said.

Therefore, the new pope expressed his willingness to base his legacy on Francis's legacy.

Keenan added: “He chose his advocates – not only to be with the poor, but also to advocate for their people.”

In his first speech Thursday, standing on a balcony overlooking St. Peter's Square, which overlooks the Vatican City, Pope Leo XIV pays homage to his immediate ex, speaking of building bridges and “a church that always seeks peace, always seeks charity, always seeks intimate relationships with those suffering.”

"He talked about a completely collective approach," Keenan said, viewing the background of the new pope as an asset.

In addition to serving as bishop of Peru, Prevost, born in Chicago, also abides by the Augustine religious order. In 2023, Pope Francis appointed him as the Bishop's County Magistrate Dicastery, who oversees bishop's choices around the world and monitors the performance of the bishop.

"This administrative capacity of the new pope is very important - it brings some orders people look for and will not remove Pope Francis' legacy, but makes it more obvious," Keenan said.