In the immediate wake of his election, Pope Leo XIV is being widely recognized not only for his strong pastoral identity and social values, but also for the direct influence of his predecessor, Pope Francis the very pontiff who helped shape his rise in the Church.
The shared vision between the two men is no coincidence: Leo XIV’s journey to the papacy was deeply intertwined with Francis’s reforms and personal trust.
Born Robert Francis Prevost in Chicago, the future pope was a missionary priest in Peru before becoming bishop of Chiclayo a role that placed him in direct alignment with Francis’s emphasis on reaching the peripheries.
But it was Pope Francis who elevated Prevost to the global stage.
In 2023, Francis appointed him Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops one of the most influential positions in the Vatican, responsible for selecting bishops around the world.
This appointment signaled the Pope’s strong confidence in Prevost’s pastoral judgment and theological alignment with the values of his pontificate: humility, inclusion, and social justice.
Both popes share a profound concern for the poor, migrants, and those on the margins of society.
Pope Francis's landmark documents like Fratelli Tutti and Laudato Si’ helped redefine the Church's modern mission, and Leo XIV appears poised to continue that trajectory.
His deep roots in Latin America and multicultural experience mirror Francis's vision of a Church that listens more than it lectures one that prioritiaes service over status.
By choosing the name Leo XIV, the new pope honors not just the intellectual and social contributions of Pope Leo XIII, but also the continuity of Francis’s vision now institutionalized through Leo XIV's elevation.
While Leo XIV is expected to bring his own personality and pace to the papacy likely with a more structured administrative tone, his foundation is unmistakably built on the reforms Pope Francis initiated.
The torch has been passed from Francis to Leo XIV in more than just ritual. It is a continuation of spirit, mission, and leadership deeply shaped by mentorship, trust, and shared pastoral commitment.
As Pope Leo XIV addresses the world in his first days as pontiff, Catholics are reminded that while each pope brings his own identity, their common foundation remains: a Church of mercy, justice, and hope.