The first hint of the new pope’s direction has come with the name he picked.
USA Cardinal Robert Prevost, 69, was elected the new pope and leader of the Roman Catholic Church on Thursday and has taken the name Pope Leo XIV a senior cardinal announced to crowds in St. Peter’s Square.
Cardinal Robert Prevost, an American missionary who spent his career ministering in Peru and leads the Vatican’s powerful office of bishops, was elected the first American pope in the 2,000-year history of the Catholic Church.
After the traditional announcement of “Habemus Papam” – “We have a pope” – from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, the new pontiff’s baptismal name was revealed, followed by the all-important papal name, laden with symbolic meaning.
Peace be with all you,” Pope Leo XIV said from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica on Thursday, in his first public words.
Papal name historically signifies strength during crisis, Catholic commentator says
The election of American-born Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost has come as a surprise, Catholic priest and blogger Ed Tomlinson said.
“It seems likely to be a continuation of Francis’s liberalisation,” he told The Independent.
As for his choice of Papal name, Tomlinson said it had a long history.
“The papal name Leo unsurprisingly shows a Pope who is going to be strong during a time of crisis, historically,” he said.
The last pope to choose the name Leo was more than 100 years ago. Pope Leo XIII led the Church from 1878 to 1903. The first pope of the name, Pope Leo the Great, led the church from 440-461.
Pope Leo XI had one of the shortest pontificates in history, lasting less than a month – from 1 April 1605 until his death on 27 April 1605.
A Pope Francis II would have singalled a continuation of the late pontiff’s focus on pastoral care and the marginalised. Interestingly, Francis himself jokingly suggested his successor might be John XXIV, referencing the progressive pope of the Second Vatican Council era.
Conversely, selecting Pius, the most frequently used papal name of the 20th century, would clearly indicate a traditionalist taking the helm.
