When white smoke rose from the Sistine Chapel and Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost emerged as Pope Leo XIV, the world welcomed the first American to lead the Catholic Church.
Yet amid the excitement, many wondered why he must be referred to with a Roman numeral in formal references — unlike his predecessor, Pope Francis, who needed no such addition.
The answer lies in history, clarity, and the deep tradition of papal naming.
Pope Francis, elected in 2013, is the first pontiff ever to take the name Francis. That means he has - or had - no predecessors of the same name, making a numeral unnecessary — for now.
Should a future pope take the name Francis II, the current pope would retroactively become Francis I in formal reference, though that’s not yet needed.
In contrast, Pope Leo XIV is the fourteenth pope in a long historical line stretching back over 1,500 years.
The first Pope Leo, canonised as St Leo the Great, reigned from 440 to 461 AD and is remembered for shaping papal authority and helping define orthodox Christian theology during turbulent times in the Western Roman Empire.
Since then, thirteen more popes have chosen the name Leo — the most recent before today being Pope Leo XIII, who reigned until 1903 and became a defining voice on social justice in the industrial age.
Because of this lineage, the numeral XIV (14) is not decorative — it's essential for distinguishing the current pontiff from his predecessors, each of whom left a distinct mark on the Church’s teachings, politics, and global influence.
This practice applies equally to popes with names like John Paul, Benedict, Pius, or Innocent — all names with multiple holders.
For instance, Pope John Paul II (1978–2005) followed Pope John Paul I, and Pope Benedict XVI followed fifteen earlier popes named Benedict. Referring to them without numerals in formal contexts would blur important historical distinctions, especially for scholars, clergy, and anyone tracing papal decisions across centuries.
Moreover, the Vatican itself — in official documents, liturgies, and announcements — consistently uses the numeral in such cases, reinforcing its importance as part of the pope’s formal title. Vatican news bulletins, for example, already refer to the new pope as Leo XIV, aligning with centuries of protocol.
Still, it’s common for media outlets or informal conversation to simplify things.
“Pope Leo” may be sufficient in a headline or a passing remark, just as many said “Pope Benedict” or “John Paul” without the Roman tail. But in diplomacy, church governance, and historical writing, the full title matters.
Ultimately, the use of Pope Leo XIV respects not only protocol but also the continuity and weight of Church history.
For Catholics and historians alike, it signals that this new papacy is part of an ancient tradition — one that takes names seriously, because names carry the legacy of those who came before.