The new Pope was announced on Thursday afternoon (8) under the name of Leo XIV, after two days of Conclave in the Sistine Chapel. The choice of the name “Leo” was not made by a pontiff for over a century.
The last one was to use the name was Pope Leo XIII, born Vincenzo Gioacchino Pecci in 1810, in the former Rome occupied by the French, was in the position of 1878 until his death, at the age of 93, in 1903.
He was the 256th Pope of the Catholic Church, his papacy lasted 25 years and is the longest fourth in Vatican history.
Leo XIII is remembered as a Pontiff of Catholic Social Doctrine. He was the author of the famous Encyclical Rerum Novarum, an open letter published in May 1891, which reflected on the technological changes caused by the Industrial Revolution and the impact on workers.
The document was the first to treat social and economic problems in the Church concretely, as well as the themes of social doctrine.
The encyclical is still considered current and, according to Vatican News, was then followed by two other popes: Paolo VI and John Paul II.
The pontiff was the one that lived longer, there are no verifiable records of an older man having served as a Pope.
He is followed by Francisco, who reigned longer than an average of 7.5 years of the previous 265 pontificates, being the second oldest in history.
Buried outside the Vatican
Leo XIII was also the last to choose to be buried outside the Vatican until Francis expresses the same will. The Italian is buried in the Basilica of St. John Lateran, while the Argentine was buried in the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore last month.
Name chosen in over a hundred years
When choosing to relive the name, Leo XIV may be signaling the priorities for his papacy, recalling a pontiff known for his dedication to social justice, fair wages and safe working conditions.
In his speech on the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, Leo XIV said that the Church can still hear “the weak but always brave voice of Pope Francis,” his predecessor.
The name Lion derives from the Latin “Leon”, suggesting strength and courage.
The first Pope Leo, who served in the fifth century, is known as “Lion, the Great,” being remembered for persuading Attila, Huno, to interrupt his invasion and spare the Roman Empire from destruction.
*With information from CNN International
This content was originally published in know who Pope Leo XIII was, last to use the name of the new pontiff on the CNN Brazil website.
Source: CNN Brasil
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