The election of Leo XIV and its relationship with the Pontificate of Leo XIII

The Universal Church has received with great joy the choice, this May 8, of its Holiness Leo XIV. From the Lodge of the Basilica of San Pedro, the new Pope – emociated to the tears – pronounced his first words and taught the blessing The city and the world.

“Peace be with all of you!” Said Leo XIV. “Dear Brothers and Sisters! This is the first greeting of Risen Christ, the good shepherd, who has given life for the flock of God,” he added.

The Pope He also remembered Peruin perfect Spanish, mentioning his “dear Diocese of Chiclayo”, which he referred to as a people who have given much “to continue being a faithful church of Jesus Christ.” Leo XIV spent more than 40 years of mission in the South American country.

Robert Francis Prevost is American and has Peruvian nationality. In addition, until the death of Pope Francis, he served as a prefect of Dicastery for Bishops and president of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America.

Here we present some curiosities about the choice of the new Pope and the relationship he keeps with the Pontificate of Leo XIII, his immediate nominal predecessor:

1. similarities with the choice of Pope Leo XIII

The conclave of which Pope Leo XIII was elected, held in 1878, lasted two days. The same as the 2025 conclave. The new Pope is 69 years old, while at the time of his choice, Cardinal Gioacchino Pecci – León XIII – was just 12 days after fulfilling the same age.

Leo XIII reigned for almost 26 years, despite being a man at that time With a fairly precarious healthdying on July 20, 1903, at 93.

2. Leo XIV was chosen on the day of the Virgen de Luján, crowned by Leo XIII

The Catholic Church in Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay celebrate their patron’s party every May 8. That same day, but from 1887, the image of Our Lady of Luján was canonically crowned by Leo XIII. The choice of the new Holy Father has coincided with this feast of great devotion to Catholics in these South American countries.

3. Leo XIV became Pope on the day of the Virgen del Rosario de Pompeya

Our Lady of the Rosary of Pompeya is a Marian invocation of Italy, which has been very revered by the potatoes In recent centuries. The plea is celebrated every May 8 Madonna of Pompeii.

Leo XIII was one of the greatest promoters of the cult of the Virgin of Pompeya, and in 1901 he raised the sanctuary – which had been donated to the Holy See in 1894 – to Pontifical Basilica, defining it as “parish of the world”, due to the large influx of pilgrims.

“Today, on the day of plea to the Virgin of Pompeya, our Mother Maria always wants to walk with us, be close, help us with her intercession and love,” said Pope Leo XIV in his first appearance before the Plaza de San Pedro and the entire world.

4. Pope Leo XIII and its importance to the Augustinians

Pope Leo XIV is the first Augustine to become a bishop of Rome. “I am a son of St. Augustine,” he said in the Lodge of the Basilica of San Pedro. For the Order of San Agustín, Pope Leo XIII has a special importance, since he canonized Santa Rita de Casia on May 24, 1900, already Santa Clara de Montefalco on December 8, 1881.

5. The appearance of San Miguel on Mount Gargano and the Prayer of Leo XIII

Also every May 8, the Roman Breviary recalls the appearance of San Miguel in his famous sanctuary on Mount Gargano, where his original glory was restored as a patron of war.

In the 1880s, Pope Leo XIII wrote the most famous prayer to San Miguel Arcángel, to ask for his intercession throughout the Church and protection against the demon.

Bonus tracks

—Your name reads “fourteen” according to the RAE

The Royal Spanish Academy (RAE) clarified today that the correct reading of the name of Pope Leo XIV is León “fourteen”, and not a “decimocuarto” Leon.

“According to the spelling of the Spanish language, Roman numbers are used to indicate the potato series: XIV Leon, John Paul II, XVI Benedict. This same work explains that, up to number ten, these numerals are read as ordinals: John Paul II is Juan Pablo Segundo. However, from ten the right thing is to read them as cardinal. Number ten admits both options (Leo X can be León Ten o Lion tenth) ”, Explained the Spanish language regulator.

—Leon, the most famous of the companions of San Francisco de Asís

The Franciscans tell that Assisi Leon He was “the most famous of San Francisco’s companions.” He was a priest and due to his purity and simplicity, “Francisco chosen it frequently as a partner and made him confidant of his secrets.” This data takes on a special relevance to being Leo XIV the immediate successor of Pope Francis, who assured on many occasions that he took his name inspired by the Holy of Assisi.