by Woodene Koenig-Bricker
Special to The Leaven
When Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost first stepped out on the balcony at St. Peter’s as the 267th pope, the question on everyone’s lips was, “What name is he going to take?”
The Catholic Church is an ancient institution. Nothing is done without meaning, least of all the name a new pope assumes. So when Leo XIV was announced, speculation as to the reason for the choice began immediately.
Popes change their birth names to signify their transition to a new state of being, a new birth, as it were, but also as a way to subtly convey the focus of their papacy. However old the tradition is, it wasn’t always the case. The first pope to change his name was Pope John II (papacy 475-535), who was originally named Mercurius after the Roman god Mercury. The most common papal name is John, and convention dictates that no one take the name Peter out of respect for the first pope.
In his first address to the college of cardinals, Pope Leo XIV explained that he took the name Leo in honor of Leo XIII, who wrote the ground-breaking encyclical “Rerum Novarum,” which confronted the social issues created by the industrial revolution, including the rights of laborers. This was taken as a sign that he would address the issues of the current AI revolution with regard to workers and human dignity.
However, given that five previous popes named Leo have been canonized, the name carries additional significance.
Pope St. Leo I, also known as Leo the Great (ruling years 400-461), is best remembered for turning back Attila the Hun from invading Italy.
St. Leo II (682-683) reigned for too short a time to do much, but he was noted for his compassion for the poor. St. Leo III (795-816) had a tremendous influence on the secular powers of the papacy. St. Leo IX (1049-1054) had the misfortune of being a pope during the schism between the Catholic and Orthodox Churches that has lasted until now.
One thing these previous Leos had in common was their direct involvement with the major social powers of their times.
However, there is one more Leo of note. While we cannot know if Pope Leo considered him when choosing the name Leo, Brother Leo was St. Francis of Assisi’s right-hand man. He was one of Francis’ first followers, his secretary and confessor. Brother Leo stayed with Francis when Francis received the stigmata and nursed Francis through his final illness. Even if Pope Leo didn’t consider Brother Leo when choosing his name, it is a fitting name for the pope who followed the first Pope Francis.
Finally, the name Leo means “lion” in Latin. Certainly, in this time of great social change, it is appropriate for the church to be guided by a man with the strength and courage traditionally associated with a lion.
Woodeene Koenig-Bricker has written extensively on the saints. Her newest book, “Praying the Saints: An Inspired Collection of Holy Wisdom” (Ave Maria Press), will be released in the fall.
