America's first pope: What does choice of 'Leo XIV' say about how he wants to lead?
Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, 69, took the name Leo XIV after the papal conclave elected him the Catholic Church's 267th pope – the first from the U.S. – on Thursday.
The conclave's choice of Prevost surprised Catholics around the world, who are now wondering what lies ahead for the church, with an American pontiff as its leader.
Prevost's papal name Leo XIV indicates "he's sending a kind of moderate message to the Catholic faithful," says Dr. Michael Pasquier, associate dean in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences at Louisiana State University.
But there's also his background. Prevost has roots in Chicago, but "he spent almost his entire priesthood in South America, in Peru," Pasquier says. "That makes him a representative of the Americas more broadly than Pope Francis, who was from South America."
What names have popes chosen most often?
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Over the centuries, Leo is one of the top five most popular names chosen by popes. One of them, Pope Leo XIII, elected in 1878, was known as a reformer. He encouraged diplomacy, advocated scientific process, and favored a strong church position on human rights.
Leo XIII's writings included an encyclical called Rerum Novarum, "which called for respecting and championing the rights of workers, the dispossessed, and the poor," Pasquier says. Other writings were more conservative.
In taking the name of Pope Leo XIV, "many are thinking that Prevost is trying to thread a needle, in signaling that he's mindful of Catholic social teaching and the mission of the church to serve the poor and the marginalized in ways that are very similar to (Pope) Francis' approach," Pasquier says.
However, Prevost also recognizes the importance of maintaining church tradition "in light of this changing modern world," Pasquier says.
Why is a new pope's name significant?
A pope's new moniker, known as a papal name or a regnal name, is "the first message a new pope sends, even before he speaks," the National Catholic Register says.
Popes can take the names of their predecessors or saints “out of respect, admiration, or recognition,” according to the Vatican News. That can include a desire to follow or emulate the intentions of past popes.
Conversely, taking a different or unexpected papal name can signal changes ahead in church doctrine, which is why the name and its historical connections will be analyzed as soon as it's revealed.
Canon Law doesn't require a pope to change his name. There is, however, one unwritten rule: a pontiff can’t take the name of Peter, out of deference to St. Peter, who is traditionally known as the Catholic Church’s first pope.
John, Benedict, Gregory and Clement are the most favored names taken by popes throughout history. Leo XIV is expected to explain the reasons why he chose his papal name.
What names have new popes taken?
Historians will study the name for clues to its meanings and connotations.
The 21 legitimate uses of "John," for example, reflect "the richness of the name being associated with the Gospel as well as John the Baptist and John the Evangelist, not to mention John of the Cross and other saints,” the National Catholic Register says.
Pope Francis, for example, drew upon "Francis of Assisi, who is a patron saint of the environment, of animals, and of care for the poor," Pasquier says.
What papal names are never chosen?
Besides Peter, other names that have not been taken by newly elected popes include:
- Andrew.
- James.
- Joseph.
- Luke.
Only two popes have taken double names: John Paul I, in August 1978, and John Paul II, who succeeded him in October 1978.
SOURCE Paste BN Network reporting and research; Reuters; National Catholic Reporter; OSV News; vatican.va; Georgetown University; therecordnewspaper.org; catholic365.com; aleteia.org; rtve.es; Vatican News; U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops; America: The Jesuit Review; McGill University, Office for Science and Society; National Catholic Register