Yesterday evening, white smoke billowing from the Sistine Chapel chimney signalled that American Robert Prevost had been elected by cardinals as the new Pope on the second day of the conclave.
But what have we seen so far that could indicate a changing approach to the papacy?
The name ‘Leo’
Despite early confusion amongst certain news outlets his papal name was soon confirmed as Pope Leo XIV, with Prevost choosing the name of a predecessor. This is often done in honour of their namesake, with some believing the name Leo to be a tribute in particular to Pope Leo XIII, who led the church from 1878-1903 and notably championed the rights of workers to fair wages and working conditions, gaining the nickname of the ‘Social Pope’.
This was the first sign, perhaps, that the papacy
will not see the same marked differences to the role that were immediately on show 12 years ago at the election of Pope Francis.
In his first days as Pope, Pope Francis was quick to tear up much of the script with regard to tradition and what had previously been expected of the newly elected head of the Catholic church.
Pope Francis speaks at the Grha Pemuda Youth Centre in Jakarta, Indonesia, Wednesday, Sept. 4 2024.
His name was chosen in honour of St Francis of Assisi, a 13th century cleric and the patron saint of animals and the environment, which was a rare deviation from the usual approach of choosing the name of a previous Pope. This later proved to be only the beginning of his unorthodox style.
The Pope’s attire
Francis then made his first appearance as Pope wearing a simple white ‘cassock’ rather than the traditional red ‘mozzetta’, a cape worn by previous Popes for formal occasions and traditionally on the night of their election. His lack of papal ‘trappings’ became the dominant imagery of the Pope for a new generation.
The new Pope Leo XVI reverted to type last night, as he appeared on the balcony of St Peter’s Basilica wearing the red mozzetta, perhaps to the delight of the Vatican tailors following Pope Francis’ 12 years of ordering unadorned white cassocks.
The return of the mozzetta was also joined by the return of the gold pectoral cross shunned by Pope Francis in favour of the iron cross that he had worn as Archbishop of Buenos Aires.
What is to come?
As with many of Francis’ actions in his early days as Pope, time will tell if Robert Prevost wishes to distance himself further from his predecessor’s humility or return to more traditional arrangements.
At his papal inauguration, Pope Francis made the decision to accept his cardinal’s congratulations at the Sistine Chapel standing up rather than sitting on the papal throne. Following the event, Pope Francis chose not to take the papal limousine back to the Domus Sanctae Marthae where cardinals reside during the conclave and where he eventually decided to reside for the duration of his papacy, instead taking a minivan back with the other cardinals.
Pope Francis was characterised by his low-key papal presentation, wearing simple white robes, choosing not to stay in the Pope’s apartments, cooking for himself and memorably toasting the cardinals after his election with the rather self-deprecating phrase: “May God forgive you”. Whilst Pope Leo XVI might continue to adhere to a traditional and not in any way, peculiar approach to his time as head of the Catholic church, he could be seen as somewhat revolutionary in his first few days in Vatican City.
He will lead his first mass as Pope today in the Sistine Chapel.
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HeadlineHow has Pope Leo XVI’s first appearance differed from Pope Francis?
Short HeadlinePope Leo XVI's first appearance
StandfirstThe American Pope makes his debut - but will his first days hint at a return to form or a quiet revolution of his own?
Yesterday evening, white smoke billowing from the Sistine Chapel chimney signalled that American Robert Prevost had been elected by cardinals as the new Pope on the second day of the conclave.
But what have we seen so far that could indicate a changing approach to the papacy?
The name ‘Leo’
Despite early confusion amongst certain news outlets his papal name was soon confirmed as Pope Leo XIV, with Prevost choosing the name of a predecessor. This is often done in honour of their namesake, with some believing the name Leo to be a tribute in particular to Pope Leo XIII, who led the church from 1878-1903 and notably championed the rights of workers to fair wages and working conditions, gaining the nickname of the ‘Social Pope’.
This was the first sign, perhaps, that the papacy
will not see the same marked differences to the role that were immediately on show 12 years ago at the election of Pope Francis.
In his first days as Pope, Pope Francis was quick to tear up much of the script with regard to tradition and what had previously been expected of the newly elected head of the Catholic church.
Pope Francis speaks at the Grha Pemuda Youth Centre in Jakarta, Indonesia, Wednesday, Sept. 4 2024.
His name was chosen in honour of St Francis of Assisi, a 13th century cleric and the patron saint of animals and the environment, which was a rare deviation from the usual approach of choosing the name of a previous Pope. This later proved to be only the beginning of his unorthodox style.
The Pope’s attire
Francis then made his first appearance as Pope wearing a simple white ‘cassock’ rather than the traditional red ‘mozzetta’, a cape worn by previous Popes for formal occasions and traditionally on the night of their election. His lack of papal ‘trappings’ became the dominant imagery of the Pope for a new generation.
The new Pope Leo XVI reverted to type last night, as he appeared on the balcony of St Peter’s Basilica wearing the red mozzetta, perhaps to the delight of the Vatican tailors following Pope Francis’ 12 years of ordering unadorned white cassocks.
The return of the mozzetta was also joined by the return of the gold pectoral cross shunned by Pope Francis in favour of the iron cross that he had worn as Archbishop of Buenos Aires.
What is to come?
As with many of Francis’ actions in his early days as Pope, time will tell if Robert Prevost wishes to distance himself further from his predecessor’s humility or return to more traditional arrangements.
At his papal inauguration, Pope Francis made the decision to accept his cardinal’s congratulations at the Sistine Chapel standing up rather than sitting on the papal throne. Following the event, Pope Francis chose not to take the papal limousine back to the Domus Sanctae Marthae where cardinals reside during the conclave and where he eventually decided to reside for the duration of his papacy, instead taking a minivan back with the other cardinals.
Pope Francis was characterised by his low-key papal presentation, wearing simple white robes, choosing not to stay in the Pope’s apartments, cooking for himself and memorably toasting the cardinals after his election with the rather self-deprecating phrase: “May God forgive you”. Whilst Pope Leo XVI might continue to adhere to a traditional and not in any way, peculiar approach to his time as head of the Catholic church, he could be seen as somewhat revolutionary in his first few days in Vatican City.
He will lead his first mass as Pope today in the Sistine Chapel.
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