What meaning does the name Leo have?Pope Leo XIII is renowned for his encyclical “Rerum Novarum,” which translates to
“Of New Things,” and is “regarded as the foundation for the modern social doctrine of the Church,” the director of the Holy See told reporters.
Gonzalo Velasco Berenguer, a professor of early modern and global medieval history at the University of Bristol, also thought about Leo’s selection.
He told PA: “I believe that the new Pope’s name choice is among the most intriguing aspects of his election.
“Although it might not seem like the most creative decision at first, it might be a sign from the new Pope to carry on Francis’ work.”
In agreement with these views, Professor Brandon Gallaher of the University of Exeter proposed that Pope Leo’s behavior would be comparable to that of Francis.
“Relating Francis’s legacy to the tradition of Catholic social teaching, the new Pope Leo XIV is a continuity candidate to institutionalize it,” he stated.
Francis and Leo XIV both want to prioritize the peripheries and provide for migrants and the underprivileged.
“Without the intense charisma of the late pope, he will be a Francis-like pontiff who is better able to bring
Catholic factions together, pays more attention to the canonical details of his decisions, and probably exhibits more discipline when it comes to public statements.”
