In his inaugural appearance on the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, the newly elected Pope Leo XIV offered the world a glimpse into his likely priorities as leader of the 1.4 billion-member Catholic Church.
Leo, formerly US Cardinal Robert Prevost, becomes the primary pope from the United States, while also holding Peruvian citizenship.
His many years of missionary work in Peru preceded his elevation to cardinal and succeeded Pope Francis, who died last month.
The latest pontiff’s selection of name, often a big indicator of a pope’s intentions, provides the primary clue.
Recalling Pope Francis’s adoption of his name from the Thirteenth-century St. Francis of Assisi, champion of the poor, Leo XIV’s selection evokes the legacy of Leo XIII.
The latter, who led the Church from 1878 to 1903, notably championed employees’ rights, advocating for fair wages, decent working conditions, and the fitting to unionise.
“By picking the name Leo XIV, he shows he’s committed to the social teaching of the church,” said Rev. Thomas Reese, a Jesuit commentator who follows the papacy closely.
Leo’s second clue was his selection of language and the words he spoke, which put a transparent emphasis on the necessity for peace, something Francis also often focused on.
None of his speech to the crowds gathered in St. Peter’s Square was in English, but somewhat Italian, the language of the papacy, and a temporary foray into Spanish to greet his former community in Peru. He didn’t mention the US.
“La pace sia con tutti voi!” (Peace be with you!), Leo’s first words in public, echoed those Catholics use of their celebrations but additionally offered an instantaneous message of peace in a world riven with conflict.
Before heading into the secret conclave on May 7, the world’s cardinals issued an announcement lamenting the conflicts “in Ukraine, the Middle East, and lots of other parts of the world” and making a “heartfelt appeal” for peace.
The latest pope said he desired to share God’s peace, calling it “a disarmed peace and a disarming peace” that’s “humble and persevering.”
Leo also mentioned Francis, who offered his last blessing to crowds in Rome on Easter Sunday, the day before he died of a stroke after battling double pneumonia for weeks.
“We still have in our ears that weak, but at all times courageous voice of Pope Francis,” he said.
Leo asked permission to supply the identical blessing Francis used just a couple of weeks ago, saying: “God loves us, God loves everyone, and evil is not going to prevail. We are within the hands of God.”
Leo’s third clue was in his selection of attire.
Unlike Francis, who spurned all the trimmings of the papacy including on the primary day he was elected in 2013, Leo wore a conventional red papal garment over his white cassock.
Although Leo follows within the tradition of Francis, he signalled he’s a latest, and different, pope.
