Newly elected head of the Catholic Church, whose secular name is Robert Francis Prevost (69), told the cardinals who elected him on Thursday that he chose the papal name Leo XIV in honor of Pope Leo XIII (1810–1903), who addressed the social question during the First Industrial Revolution through his historic encyclical Rerum Novarum.
That encyclical, issued in 1891, meaning “Of New Things” with the subtitle “The Rights and Duties of Capital and Labor”, marked the beginning of the Catholic Church’s social doctrine, emphasizing the principles of human dignity, solidarity, and the common good.
“Today, the Church offers its legacy of social teaching to address a new kind of industrial revolution and the rise of artificial intelligence, which present new challenges to human dignity, justice, and labor,” said the Pope.
Pope Leo XIV signaled his intention to continue the vision and reforms of his predecessor, Pope Francis (1936–2025), telling cardinals from around the world that the late pontiff left behind a “precious legacy” that must be carried forward, inspired by the same hopes born of faith.
The first Pope from the United States, who also holds Peruvian citizenship after spending more than half his life as a missionary there, outlined key values upheld by the late Pope Francis: “a secure and courageous dialogue with the modern world,” “gentle care for the least and the abandoned,” missionary work, and active church engagement in all areas of life.
He also stated: “The Pope is a humble servant of God and his brothers—nothing more.”
Pope Leo XIV will offer his first Sunday prayer tomorrow from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica before thousands of faithful and tourists in Vatican City.
