From his early moments on the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, Pope Leo 14 gave three important clues about the type of leader of the Catholic Church of 1.4 billion members he will be.
Lion, former US cardeal Robert Prevost, was elected by the world’s cardinals on Thursday as the new Pope on the second day of the conclave to choose the successor of Pope Francis, who died last month.
He is the first Pope in the United States, but has double citizenship in Peru, where he was a missionary for decades before becoming Cardinal.
The first track of Lion was the choice of the name. Popes usually use this choice to send their first important signal about the priorities of their new papacy.
Francis adopted his 13th century name from St. Francis of Assisi, who rejected wealth and wanted to take care of the poor.
The last Pope to adopt the name Lion, Leo 13, concentrated much of his papacy, from 1878 to 1903, in defense of workers’ rights, demanding fair salaries, fair working conditions and the right to join unions.
Continues after advertising
“When choosing the name Leo 14, he shows that he is committed to the church’s social doctrine,” said Rev. Thomas Reese, a Jesuit commentator who closely follows the papacy.
Leo’s second track was the language and the chosen words, clearly emphasizing the need for peace, something Francisco also emphasized often.
None of his speeches to the multitudes gathered in St. Peter’s Square was given in English, but in Italian, the language of the papacy, and brief foray into Spanish to greet his old community in Peru. He did not mention the United States.
Continues after advertising
“La Pace Sia Con Tutti Voi!” (Peace is with you!), Leo’s first words in public echoed those that Catholics use in their celebrations, but also offered an immediate message of peace in a conflict -torn world.
Before entering the secret conclave on May 7, the cardinals around the world issued a statement lamenting the conflicts “in Ukraine, the Middle East and many other parts of the world” and making a “sincere appeal” for peace.
The new Pope said he wanted to share the peace of God, calling it “a disarmed peace and a disarmed peace” that is “humble and persevering.”
Continues after advertising
Leo also mentioned Francis, who offered his last blessing to crowds in Rome on Easter Sunday, a day before he died of a stroke after fighting double pneumonia for weeks.
“We still have in our ears the weak but always brave voice of Pope Francis,” said Leo.
The new Pope asked permission to offer the same blessing as Francis for just a few weeks ago, saying, “God loves us, God loves all, and evil will not prevail. We are in the hands of God.”
Continues after advertising
The third lion track was choosing the dress.
Unlike Francis, who despised the papacy props, even on the first day she was elected in 2013, Leo wore a traditional red papal dress over her white cassock.
Although he follows the tradition of Francis, Leo has signaled that he is a new and different Pope.
