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The South African
09-05-2025
- General
- The South African
What does Pope Leo XIV's name tell us about him?
Pope Leo XIV's name was introduced on 8 May when he was announced as the new head of the Catholic Church. The pontiff was born Robert Prevost but, on assuming the papacy, he selected a new name. For centuries, it's been a tradition for a new pope to assume a different name once he is appointed. The practice began in 533 when Pope John II abandoned his given name Mercurius. This was likely to distance himself from the pagan Roman god, Mercury. Popes generally choose names to showcase what they stand for and what their papacy will emphasise. The late Pope Francis, the first to take the name, chose it to symbolise his commitment to peace and to the poor. Although he is the first American pontiff, Pope Leo XIV's name is full of tradition. Leo is also the fourth most popular name in the history of the papacy. The new pope is the 14th to choose the name. The name Leo is the Latin word for 'lion'. This typically suggests strength and bravery. At least one Pope Leo certainly won fame for his courage. Leo the Great reportedly stopped Attila the Hun's invasion of Rome in the 5th century by travelling to meet the fearsome leader and negotiating a peace. The last pope with the moniker was Leo XIII, who headed the Catholic Church between 1878 and 1903. His 25-year papacy is the third longest in the history of the Vatican. Leo XIII was a noted reformer of the Church. In 1891, he wrote 'Of Revolutionary Change'. This pamphlet reflected on the negative impact of the Industrial Revolution on society. It seems concern for workers is a passion of the new pontiff. In a statement, Vatican spokesperson Matteo Bruni said Pope Leo XIV's name was a conscious choice: 'It is clearly a reference to the lives of men and women, to their work – even in an age marked by artificial intelligence.' Let us know by leaving a comment below or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 0211. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X, and Bluesky for the latest news.
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
What's in a name? The history of the papal name Leo
Leo is now tied for the fourth most common name chosen by popes, along with Clement. Only John, Gregory and Benedict have proven more popular. But we haven't had a Pope Leo in more than a century. The last Pope Leo was Leo XIII, who was born in French-occupied Rome in 1810. He served as pope from 1878 until his death in 1903, making his 25-year papacy the fourth longest in the church's history. Leo XIII is remembered as a pope of Catholic social teaching. He wrote a famous open letter to all Catholics in 1891, called 'Rerum Novarum' ('Of Revolutionary Change'). The pamphlet reflected on the destruction wrought by the Industrial Revolution on the lives of workers. In a press briefing Thursday after the conclave, Vatican spokesperson Matteo Bruni said the choice of name 'is a clear reference to the modern social doctrine of the Church, which began with Rerum Novarum.' Bruni said the name Leo was a deliberate reference to 'men, women, their work, and workers in an age of artificial intelligence,' seeming to link the pace of technological change of the current era to that of the nineteenth century. The first Pope Leo, who served in the fifth century, is known as 'Leo the Great,' and is remembered for persuading Attila the Hun to halt his invasion and spare the Roman Empire from destruction. Their meeting was rendered in a 1514 painting by Raphael. The Renaissance work is now displayed in the Vatican's Apostolic Palace, which the 133 voting cardinals – including Cardinal Robert Prevost, now Leo XIV – passed through as they proceeded into the Sistine Chapel on Wednesday for the start of the conclave. In the painting, an unarmed Pope Leo – watched over by St. Peter and St. Paul – calmly confronts Attila and his army. Their meeting is celebrated by Catholics for showing that peaceful agreements can be reached without violence. Leo XIV used his first words as pope to call for peace. 'Peace be with you,' he called out from the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica. 'This was the first greeting of the risen Christ,' he said. The name Leo derives from the Latin for 'lion,' suggesting strength and courage. In his address from the balcony, Leo XIV said the church can still hear 'the weak but always courageous voice of Pope Francis,' his predecessor. CNN's Sharon Braithwaite contributed reporting.
