What’s in a Name? In the Case of Leo XIV, Lessons in Bridging Historical Shifts

The name change to Pope Leo XIV symbolizes the last Leo pope, Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost's effort to reference Leo XIII, who championed workers' rights during a pivotal period for the Catholic Church. As the "pope of the workers," Leo XIII modernized the church while bridging its role between pre-modern and modern times through his advocacy for labor rights and outreach to working-class issues. His selection as pope was both conservative yet transitional, embodying a middle-of-the-road approach in contrast to the more radical Leo XIV's name choice.