Pope Leo XIV has pointed to the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) and booming technology as key reasons for selecting his papal name.
Pope Leo XIV’s papacy comes around 125 years after the passing of Pope Leo XIII, who notably condemned socialism and championed workers’ rights in his well-known encyclical, Rerum Novarum. He received significant respect for leading during a time of immense technological change marked by the Industrial Revolution and the emergence of trade unions. As noted in a 2019 report, this period was crucial as it raised many questions about labor dynamics amid industrial growth.
Furthermore, Leo’s encyclical, Rerum Novarum, was published in 1890, coinciding almost perfectly with the establishment of Labor Day in the United States. It was an era when factories and mass production were disrupting the traditional agricultural economy, reshaping societal norms and ushering in both economic challenges and new opportunities. In this shifting landscape, many sought to restore social balance.
However, it’s important to recognize that power was consolidating, as the outdated conservative political systems struggled to address essential alternatives, such as anarchism, socialism, and communism.
In light of this, leaders from the Center identified the need for innovative thinking to navigate through the turmoil brought on by the revolution.
When Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, the first American Pope, chose the name Leo XIV, many commentators interpreted it as an indication that he might continue the legacy of his predecessor. During a recent address to Cardinals University, the Holy Father addressed these speculations directly.
“I selected the name Leo XIV for several reasons, primarily because of the historical significance of Pope Leo XIII’s Rerum Novarum, which tackled social issues during the initial industrial revolution,” he stated.
“In our times, the Church aims to offer its social teachings to address the challenges posed by another industrial revolution and advancements in artificial intelligence, which affect human dignity, justice, and labor rights,” he added.
