Our Lady
Pope Leo XIV
HABEMUS PAPAM
Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost has been elected Pope, and taken the name Leo XIV. For this we give thanks to God, the Conclave that elected him and the Church Pope Francis shaped which recognised in Cardinal Prevost, the Successor of St. Peter.
Robert Prevost is an Augustinian and Canon Lawyer, having served as Prior General of the Order of Saint Augustine (2001–2013) and Bishop of Bishop of Chiclayo, Peru (2015–2023), Made a Cardinal in September 2023 and Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops (2023–2025), responsible for the appointment of Bishops in the Church. In this role he sought to appoint men of humility and supported them in their roles.
Synodality is not something Robert Prevost has ‘had to get on-board with’, both as Superior General of the Augustinians and as a missionary Bishop in Peru, he would have been well formed in both recognition and practice, that progress can only be made through collaboration and attentive listening – the notion and practice of Synodality which is a ‘default’ position for him.
A reporter on BBC 1 this morning said that when appeared on the Balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica yesterday afternoon, “he was dressed like Benedict, and spoke like Francis”. He is described as a bridge builder – this observation manifests that quality. Even in dress, the attentive observer will not have missed the fact that while he dressed like Benedict, his shoes were black, like Francis – no red slippers.
The choice of name is significant. Pope Leo XIII (1810 – 1903) was well known for his intellectualism and his attempts to define the position of the Catholic Church with regard to modern thinking. In his famous 1891 encyclical Rerum Novarum, Pope Leo outlined the rights of workers to a fair wage, safe working conditions, and the formation of trade unions, while affirming the rights to property and free enterprise, opposing both socialism and laissez-faire capitalism. With that encyclical, he became popularly called the "Social Pope" and the "Pope of the Workers", also having created the foundations for modern thinking in the social doctrines of the Catholic Church, influencing his successors.
Leo XIII is particularly remembered for his belief that pastoral activity in political sociology is also a vital mission of the church as a vehicle of social justice and maintaining the rights and dignities of the human person.
Clearly Leo XIII has influenced Robert Prevost as a Bishop in Peru as he pastored his Diocese facing numerous issues which challenge life in Peru; corruption, public insecurity, and social conflict. Economic challenges like low growth, and the need for investment also exist. Environmental issues like pollution and climate change impact both the natural environment and public health. Additionally, issues of inequality, poverty, and gender-based violence persist. There are echoes of Pope Francis priorities.
An accomplished linguist, fluent in Italian, Spanish Portuguese and French, and clearly a competent pastor and administrator, deeply rooted in the Spirituality of the Augustinian Order.
We give thanks for his election and pray for him in this office to which he has been called as we commend him to the prayers of Our Lady.
Full Homily of Pope Leo XIV at his Inauguration Mass - May 18, 2025
//www.youtube.com/embed/LkNoVoal-Rc#t=0.5