A thousand-year-old tradition with biblical and spiritual roots
The change of name at the election of a pope is a tradition as ancient as it is rich in meaning. Although no canonical text requires it, over the centuries this custom has become an essential stage in the beginning of each pontificate. It dates back to the 7th century, when the first pontiff to change his name, John II, chose to abandon his birth name, Mercurius, which evoked a pagan god, and adopt a Christian name.
Since then, each newly elected pope chooses a new name, marking a form of new birth in his mission. This gesture is not insignificant: it expresses an inner break, a personal commitment, and above all a spiritual desire to inscribe his pontificate in a certain filiation.
Taking a new name means becoming another man for another service: no longer just the bishop elected from among others, but the successor of Peter, universal pastor of the Catholic Church.
A name to chart a course
The name a pope chooses is never neutral. It is always a message addressed to the Church and the world. It can reflect a desire for continuity, like Benedict XVI, who echoed Benedict XV, Pope of Peace during the First World War. It can also mark a prophetic break, like Francis, whose unprecedented choice announced a poor Church for the poor, inspired by Saint Francis of Assisi.
This is why the eyes of the whole world are turned towards this precise moment: what name will the new pope choose? This name is often the first act of his pontificate, a condensation of the vision he will carry into the years to come.
The choice of "Leo XIV": a bridge between wisdom and audacity
When Cardinal Langston became Pope, his choice of the name Leo XIV surprised by its symbolic power. He joined a lineage that had not been revived for over a century, the last pope to bear the name being Leo XIII (1878-1903). But beyond its rarity, this name contains several layers of meaning, all linked to his pastoral project.
Leon I, known as "the Great": firmness and spiritual authority
The first Leo, who became Leo I the Great, is a colossal figure in the history of the Church. A Doctor of the Church, a fine theologian and a courageous diplomat, he is famous for having stood up to Attila the Hun, but also for his clear affirmation of the Pope's role as guarantor of the faith in the universal Church. He represents a strong but spiritual authority, rooted in faith and fidelity to tradition.
By placing himself under this patronage, Leo XIV indicates his desire for a strong but non-authoritarian ministry, capable of defending the truth with humility and courage. He wanted a Church that did not shy away from contemporary challenges, but faced them with peace, discernment and faith.
Leon XIII: social justice and Christian modernity
The second model is Leo XIII, the great pope of the 19th century, often regarded as the father of the Church's social doctrine. With his encyclical Rerum Novarum, he laid the foundations of the Christian commitment to social justice, workers' rights and human dignity in the face of misery.
By taking up this name, Leo XIV shows a clear desire: to continue to pay attention to the poor, the world of work, the excluded, not naively, but by rereading the Gospel in the light of the suffering of the world. It thus points to a committed Church, not turned in on itself, but incarnated in human realities.
A dual inspiration for a single project
The name Leo XIV therefore brings together two great intuitions: authority enlightened by truth and an evangelical commitment to justice. It is not a political choice, but a complete spiritual vision, rooted in tradition but tending towards the future.
Leon XIV is neither a rigid conservative nor an impulsive reformer. His name expresses the balance he seeks: a pastor rooted in the history of the Church, but animated by the breath of the Spirit for today.
Consistent with his personal style
The choice of "Leo" also makes sense when we look at the new pope's personal style. Since the beginning of his pontificate, Leo XIV has distinguished himself by his frank tone, sober language and clear gestures. He spoke little, but acted quickly. He consults widely, but decides straightforwardly.
Like his predecessors Leo I and Leo XIII, he places the Word of God at the centre, rejects clericalism, and wants to restore the moral credibility of the Church without giving in to populism or elitism.
A name to embody
Finally, we must remember that this name is not an immediate halo. It is an invitation, a responsibility, a horizon. Day after day, Leo XIV will have to give flesh to this name, give it life through his decisions, his silences, his reforms and his struggles.
At the end of his pontificate, it will not only be said that his name was Leo XIV, but that Leo XIV was as he called himself: a man of peace and strength, of fidelity and justice.
