In a monumental moment in the history of the catholic world, a new head of the Roman Catholic Church has been appointed, and he is going by the name Pope Leo XIV, Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost. His very first words as pontiff “Peace be with you” spoken from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica came ringing through the world as a word of unity, compassion and calm leadership. Such a simple but powerful greeting announces the mood of his papacy: the other that stands on humility, conversation, and hope. Not only has Pope Leo XIV been a first American born pope a character that is also widely associated with both North and South America.
Born in Chicago and made a bishop in Peru, he is a new face representing a mixture of global sensitivity and local perspective. His ministry has always and rightly been defined by its dedication to social justice, pastoral care and an insistence to walk with the forgotten – values that sit well with the Church’s mission in our contemporary society. His selection of name is particularly meaningful. By claiming the name of “Leo”, he shows his devotion to Pope Leo XIII whose social teaching as well as his efforts to win workers some of the rights is remarkable. This willful selection foreshadows Pope Leo XIV’s attempt to further discuss the moral aspects of economic inequality, worker rights, and human dignity – the main subjects as relevant now as they were more than a century ago.
In a historic moment for the Catholic world, in the whole world, the Roman Catholic Church, Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost has been elected the new pope; he takes the name of Pope Leo XIV. His first words as pontiff “Peace be with you” announced from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica resounded around the globe as a message of unity, compassion and calm leadership. This basic albeit profound greeting sets the tone for his papacy: One based on humility, dialogue and hope. Pope Leo XIV is not only the first after he was born in the United States, but he is also a breed of a North and South American.
A native of Chicago, a past bishop for Peru, he comes to the task with a distinctive mix of worldwide outlook and local awareness. His ministry is heavily influenced by devotion to social justice, pastoral concern and willingness to walk with the excluded; qualities that resonate with Church vision today. His selection of name is particularly significant. By taking the title of “Leo,” he eulogizes to Pope Leo XIII, who was an apostle of social teaching and supporter of the rights of labor. This conscious decision points to Pope Leo XIV’s desire to follow up on matters of the moral face of inequality, duties of labor, and dignity of man the fundamental issues that are just as actual now as they were a century ago.