In a move rich with historical resonance, Pope Leo XIV has stirred the global conscience by invoking the memory of Pope Leo XIII, the great reformer of Catholic social teaching, as inspiration for his papacy. The decision, explained in his first formal address to the College of Cardinals, signals a clear intention: to confront the pressing challenges of our digital and post-industrial world with the same moral vigor that guided the Church through the upheavals of the 19th century.
Pope Leo XIV emphasized that his namesake, Pope Leo XIII, authored the foundational encyclical Rerum novarum in 1891 during the first great Industrial Revolution. That document gave voice to workers exploited by an unfettered capitalist machine, asserting their right to dignity, unionization, and a just wage. Today, as artificial intelligence and digital automation trigger a new wave of transformation, Leo XIV intends to renew that commitment, addressing modern dilemmas with enduring moral clarity.
According to historian Dr. Donald Prudlo, the parallels between the two Leos are striking. Just as Pope Leo XIII faced an era of social fragmentation, urban displacement, and ideological unrest, Pope Leo XIV finds himself at the dawn of a new epoch, where white-collar workers, educators, programmers, and others confront existential threats posed by automation and AI. This is not merely an age of change, but a transformation of ages—what Pope Francis once called “a change of epoch.”
Pope Leo XIV’s previous pastoral work in South America has grounded him in the realities of labor exploitation in global supply chains—where cheap and even forced labor still power the comforts of wealthier societies. He has seen firsthand the human cost of economic imbalance and intends to echo the voice of Pope Leo XIII, becoming a champion for the voiceless in a world of silent algorithms and invisible labor.
The Pope’s emphasis is not just on workers, but on the sacredness of work itself. Labour, he affirms, is not merely an economic tool but a profound expression of human dignity. Whether in factories or in offices, work should empower, not dehumanize. This theological truth—rooted in the Church’s view of man as imago Dei, made in God’s image—demands that economic systems respect the full moral worth of every individual.
Leo XIII’s Rerum novarum didn’t stand in isolation; it initiated a tradition. Successors like Pius XI, Paul VI, John Paul II, Benedict XVI, and Francis have revisited and expanded it in light of changing times. Now, Leo XIV seeks to add a new chapter, one that confronts the rise of AI, the fragility of digital labor markets, and the social atomization driven by technological hyperconnectivity.
Critics often question the Church’s role in economic matters, but as Dr. Prudlo explains, the Church’s mission includes upholding moral principles—chief among them, the dignity of the human person. While the Church does not craft economic blueprints, it draws moral boundaries: one cannot exploit workers, deny them just compensation, or sacrifice human life at the altar of profit.
In choosing the name “Leo,” the new pontiff has made a statement of intent. He aims to root the Church’s response to modern upheavals in a moral tradition that has weathered centuries. As the world watches, Pope Leo XIV positions the Church once again not at the margins of societal debate, but squarely at its moral heart—proclaiming the timeless truth that no revolution, digital or industrial, can override the dignity of the human soul.