What’s in a name? The name chosen by a new Pope is always eagerly anticipated and, when announced, it is analysed and speculated upon. What does it say about the new Pope? What can we expect to be his priorities? I’ve often wondered if an Irishman was chosen to be Pope what would he be called? Maybe Pope Patrick? Or maybe he would pick the name of one of the great Irish saints like Columba or Malachy? Names say a lot about us, and the name of a Pope carries huge significance. It is almost a mission statement in itself.
After the great outpouring of joy and celebration in St Peter’s Square last Thursday as Cardinal Robert Prevost was announced as our new Holy Father, there was plenty of comment on his choice of name, Leo XIV. “An inspired choice”, was how one friend of mine described it. It is both a continuation of the missionary, outward-looking synodal approach of Pope Francis as well as a declaration of intent to hold on to traditional values, as his namesake Pope Leo XIII did, despite being known as a reformer, due to his groundbreaking social teaching in Rerum Novarum. This encyclical, issued in 1891, defending the rights of workers and their right to form trade unions, is considered a foundational text of Catholic social teaching. At the time, great numbers were living in misery and squalor, oppressed by employers and factory owners.
I’ve never liked the idea that the Pope is either ‘liberal or conservative’ but there is no doubt that, while most people had a great respect and love for Pope Francis, there were some who thought he was not ‘strong enough’ on upholding traditional Catholic teachings. Just as Jesus was criticised by the Pharisees for eating and drinking with sinners, Francis was criticised by modern day Pharisees because he extended a hand of welcome to some who might have been seen as outsiders or ‘less worthy’ of love.
I expect that Pope Leo will continue to preach the Gospel and teach the Catholic faith as Francis did, not by changing doctrines as some might wish, but by being welcoming and inclusive and using language that is accessible and invitational. He certainly comes across so far as a good communicator and a man of great warmth and compassion.
I hope he will be a builder of bridges, healing some of the divisions that are painfully present between different factions in the Church. I hope that he will prioritise Safeguarding and Synodality in the Church: by ensuring that robust policies are in place and enforced in every diocese and parish to ensure the safety and wellbeing of children and vulnerable adults, and by continuing to promote Synodality and co-responsibility as the way forward for the Church.
And my hopes for Pope Leo regarding his relationship with the wider world is that he will be a powerful voice for peace and a champion of the rights of the poor, the migrant and the refugee. There is no doubt that his voice carries considerable weight and that he is a highly respected world leader. The warm welcome he has already received gives him a momentum that should ensure he will be listened to and heeded.
Most of all, I hope that he will be centred on the Gospel of Jesus Christ and that, through his example and teaching, great numbers of the faithful and great numbers of young people who are searching for meaning in life will come to discover for themselves the riches of the Gospel and the love of God made visible in Christ.
Our new Pope has a difficult task ahead of him. May God give him the faith and courage, the wisdom and strength he will need for the years ahead.
