Reuters: In His First Appearance, Leo XIV Gave Three Important Clues About His Papacy
17- 9.05.2025, 11:41
- 20,804
The new pontificate will be different from the Vatican's policies under Francis.
From his first moments on the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica, Pope Leo XIV gave three important clues about what his papacy will be like.
According to Reuters, Leo's first clue was his choice of name. The fact is that popes often use this choice to send their first major signal about the priorities of their papacy.
The publication pointed out that Francis took his name from the 13th-century saint Francis of Assisi, who rejected wealth and cared for the poor. The last pope to take the name Leo, Leo XIII, focused his 1878-1903 papacy on defending the rights of workers.
"By choosing the name Leo XIV, he showed that he was committed to the social teachings of the church," said Jesuit commentator Thomas Reese.
A second clue to Leo's commitment was his choice of language and the words he spoke, which placed a clear emphasis on the need for peace.
None of his speeches to the faithful gathered in St. Peter's Square were in English, but rather in Italian, the language of the papacy, and a brief switch to Spanish to greet his former community in Peru. He did not mention the United States.
"La pace sia con tutti voi!" (Peace be with you!), the new pope's first words in public, echoed the greeting Catholics use on holidays, but also, the publication noted, a direct message of peace to a war-torn world.
The new pope said he wanted to share God's peace, calling it "a disarmed peace and a disarming peace" that is "humble and resilient."
Pope Leo's third clue was in his choice of clothing.
In contrast to Francis, who rejected all the trappings of the papacy, including on the first day of his election in 2013, Leo wore the traditional red papal robe over his white cassock.
This way he made it clear that he is a new and very different pope.
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