Pope Leo XIV explained on Saturday his election of name, telling the cardinals that he sought to defend the struggles of the working class defended by Pope Leo XIII and expressing his concern about the displacement of human jobs by artificial intelligence.
Key data
Pope Leo XIV, whose legal name is Robert Francis Prevost, said he chose his name to align with the values of his predecessor, Pope Leo XIII, who defended the rights of workers and fair wages while reigned from 1878 to 1903.
Pope Leo XIII wrote an encyclical that promoted the unions and defended the working class after an era of growing industrialization and problems with labor protections.
Pope Leo XIII wrote that defrauding salaries due to workers “is a great crime that claims to the avenging anger of heaven.”
The new Pope said the Catholic Church offers its orientation in response to “the advances in the field of artificial intelligence that raise new challenges for the defense of human dignity, justice and work.”
Pope Leo XIV’s comments come a day after Reverend Art Purcaro, a friend of León, told CNN that he believed that the choice of the new Pope’s name means that “he wants to continue the role played by Pope Francis” in the defense of the causes of social justice.
Why do the potatoes change their names?
The newly chosen potatoes choose their papal names for various symbolic reasons, but generally adopt new names to indicate the values and direction they will prioritize in their function as pontiffs. The new potatoes can use unique names or follow the traditional path and name in honor of their predecessors, as Pope Leo XIV did when choosing his name. The name of the new Pope evokes Pope Leo I, known as “León el Grande.” The first Pope León was famous for his diplomatic values and for persuading Attila the Hun of not attacking Rome.
Why was Pope Leo XIII known?
Pope Leo XIII was also known for criticizing “Americanism”, writing in a letter to US bishops that the Church “cannot approve those opinions that, in its collective sense, some call ‘Americanism'”, in reference to the idea that the Church should adapt better to modern ideals. Pope Leo XIII harshly criticized the suggestion that the Catholic Church should change its teachings so that they are more consistent with the spirit of the time, relax its ancient severity and make concessions to the new opinions.
Key history
Spanish Pope Leo XIV was announced as the new Pontiff on the second day of the papal conclave this week, receiving the majority of two thirds and taking over from Pope Francis, who died of a stroke last month after dealing with a respiratory disease. Born in Chicago, Illinois, Pope Leo XIV is the first American Pope in the history of the Catholic Church and has Creole and Haitian roots. He has also voted in multiple elections in the United States, including the republican primary of Illinois of 2012, 2014 and 2016 and the presidential elections of 2024. One of his brothers told The New York Times that the new Pope would probably follow the steps of Pope Francis, saying that Pope Leo XIV “has a great desire to help oppressed and marginalized, the people who are ignored”. The new Pope said in his first speech as a pontiff that it was necessary to create a “church that builds bridges, which is always open to receive everyone.”
This article was originally published by Forbes Us.
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