Robert Francis Prevost, known as Pope Leo XIV, has made history as the first North America leader of the Catholic church – and his name choice could signal a continuity with his predecessor
Chants of ‘Viva il Papa’ – Long live the Pope – roared through St Peter’s Square as crowds gathered in their masses to see Robert Francis Prevost appear on the balcony of St Peter’s Basilica after becoming the 267th Pope.
Born in Chicago, he has made history as the first North American to be chosen to lead the Catholic church and he will now be known as Pope Leo XIV moving forward. In his first address as the Pope, Leo XIV praised his predecessor Pope Francis, saying: “We still hear in our ears the weak but always courageous voice of Pope Francis who blessed us.”
READ MORE: Pope Leo XIV sent ‘peace offering’ by JD Vance despite ‘anti-MAGA’ tweets
But as well as using his first words to speak fondly of his predecessor, choosing the name ‘Leo’ could also signal a strong connection to Pope Francis too. Commenting on the name choice, a Vatican spokesman confirmed it was a reference to Leo XIII, who was the last pontiff to have the name, and who was head of the Catholic Church from 1878 to 1903.
During his time as head of the Catholic Church, Leo XIII laid the foundation for modern Catholic social thought. In 1891, the famous encyclical Rerum Novarum acknowledged workers’ rights and capitalism at the dawn of the industrial age.
It has also been claimed that ‘Leo’ may refer to Brother Leo, who was the 13th century friar and a good companion of St Francis of Assisi. Having chosen to become Leo XIV, the Pope could be signalling a continuity with Francis, who named himself after the saint, and was dubbed ‘the people’s pope’ by many.
“I think one of the most interesting things about the election of the new Pope is his choice of name,” said Dr Gonzalo Velasco Berenguer, lecturer in global medieval and early modern history at the University of Bristol.
“At first glance it might not seem the most original choice, but it could be a symbol from the new Pope to continue the work of Francis.”
Meanwhile, Professor Brandon Gallaher, from the University of Exeter, said Leo XIV will be a “Francis-like pontiff”. They explained: “The new Pope Leo XIV is a continuity candidate to institutionalise Francis’s legacy in terms of linking it to the tradition of Catholic social teaching.
“Leo XIV shares with Francis the desire to put the peripheries in the centre and care for migrants and those who are marginalised. He will be a Francis-like pontiff without the intense charisma of the late pope and with a better ability to unite the Catholic factions and greater attention to the canonical details of his decisions and likely greater discipline in terms of public statements.
“The choice of Pope Leo XIV shows that Pope Francis’s revolution in church life will now be institutionalised.”
Elsewhere, Leo XIV’s brother described him as being very concerned for the poor and those who don’t have a voice. He said he expects him to be a “second Pope Francis”.
“He’s not going to be real far left and he’s not going to be real far right,” he told The Associated Press from his home in New Lenox, Illinois. “Kind of right down the middle.”
The newly elected pontiff is the 267th Pope, and will now lead around 1.4 billion catholics across the globe. As white smoke flowed from the chimney at the chapel onlookers burst into cheers as they watched history be made.
Congratulating the new Pope, Barack Obama wrote on X: “Michelle and I send our congratulations to a fellow Chicagoan, His Holiness Pope Leo XIV. This is a historic day for the United States, and we will pray for him as he begins the sacred work of leading the Catholic Church and setting an example for so many, regardless of faith.”
Elsewhere on Truth Social, US President Donald Trump said: “Congratulations to Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, who was just named Pope. It is such an honor to realize that he is the first American Pope. What excitement, and what a Great Honor for our Country. I look forward to meeting Pope Leo XIV. It will be a very meaningful moment!”
READ MORE: ITV’s Dr Hilary Jones says ‘liquid gold’ kitchen staple ‘boosts your immune system’