Camilla Jessen
The first American pope, Leo XIV, wasted no time offering insight into his vision for the Catholic Church—and the world.
From his first moments on the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, Pope Leo XIV gave the world a preview of what kind of leader he intends to be for the Catholic Church’s 1.4 billion followers, Reuters reports.
The newly elected pope, formerly American Cardinal Robert Prevost, was chosen by the cardinals on Thursday during the second day of the Conclave, following the death of Pope Francis last month.
Leo XIV becomes the first pope from the United States and holds dual citizenship with Peru, where he served for decades as a missionary before becoming a cardinal.
1. His Name Choice
The first sign of his vision came with his papal name.
Traditionally, a pope’s name reflects their intended focus.
Francis selected his name in honor of St. Francis of Assisi, the 13th-century saint known for rejecting wealth and championing care for the poor.
Leo XIII, the last pope to bear the name, served from 1878 to 1903 and focused heavily on defending workers’ rights, advocating for fair wages, safer conditions, and unionization.
“By selecting the name Leo XIV, he is signaling a commitment to the Church’s social teachings,” noted Rev. Thomas Reese, a Jesuit scholar who closely observes papal affairs, as cited by Digi24.
2. His Message and Language
Leo’s second clue lay in the language and tone of his first address.
He emphasized peace, a central concern of his predecessor Francis.
Surprisingly, he spoke no English despite his American roots, instead using Italian—the official language of the papacy—and a short Spanish greeting for his Peruvian community.
His first words to the crowd, “La pace sia con tutti voi!” (“May peace be with you all!”), echoed traditional Catholic liturgy but also delivered a timely message in a world rife with conflict.
Ahead of the conclave on May 7, the world’s cardinals had jointly condemned wars in Ukraine, the Middle East, and other regions, calling for “a sincere appeal for peace.”
Pope Leo described peace as “a disarmed and disarming peace, humble and persevering.”
He also paid tribute to Pope Francis, who had given his final Easter blessing just a day before his death from a stroke following a severe respiratory illness.
“We still hear that fragile yet ever-brave voice of Pope Francis,” Leo said, before asking for permission to repeat Francis’ blessing:
“God loves us, God loves everyone, and evil will not prevail. We are in God’s hands.
3. His Attire
The final signal was in his clothing choice.
Unlike Francis, who famously rejected traditional papal adornments at his election in 2013, Leo XIV wore the traditional red papal mozzetta over his white robes.
The gesture suggests that while he will carry forward elements of Francis’ legacy, Leo XIV intends to shape his own distinct path as leader of the Catholic Church.