The last pope to use the name Leo was Leo XIII, who served from 1878 to 1903 and was known as “the social pope” for championing workers’ rights and standing up for the poor. Some say Leo XIV’s name choice signals his intention to carry on that legacy — leaning into bridge-building and solidarity.
While the Vatican has remained cautious about revealing the new pope’s stance on major political issues, the signs are already emerging. He has reposted tweets criticizing Donald Trump, condemned Vice President JD Vance’s interpretation of Christianity, and made strong statements in his first sermon about “violations of human dignity” and society’s obsession with “technology, money, success, power [or] pleasure.”
John Prevost, Pope Leo’s older brother and a retired Catholic school principal, recently sat down with The New York Times and offered rare personal insights into the man now leading the world’s 1.3 billion Catholics.
“I don’t think we’ll see extremes either way,” John said, describing Leo as someone who takes a centrist approach.
But one sensitive and pressing issue — both globally and in his home country of the U.S. — might just be enough to make the Pope speak out forcefully.
