Dear Friends,
This is an exciting time for us as a Church. The words of Cardinal Protodeacon Dominique Mamberti still echo in our ears, ‘Habemus Papam,’ proclaiming to the city of Rome and to the whole world the election of Roberto Francis Cardinal Prevost as Pope Leo XIV. A historic moment was made on that beautiful 8th day of May, 2025. This history chronicles that this was the first time that someone from the Unites States of America became Pope. Leo XIV is also the first Pope from the Order of Saint Augustine. Additionally, he is the first Pope to hold Peruvian citizenship. My personal admiration for Pope Leo XIV, from the moment of his elevation as the 267th Pontiff begins with the name he chose, Leo the XIV, symbolizing leadership of our Church, which has existed for more than 2,000 years. When the announcement was made, the name Leo XIV resonated deeply with me, as it did to so many men and women of the Church, especially those who loved the intellectual tradition of the Church and whose understanding of God, the world, and the human person is influenced by the history of the Catholic Social Teaching (CST). In adopting the name Leo XIV, our new Pope aims to follow in the footsteps of Pope Leo XIII (1878-1903) who was known for his commitment to social justice and the rights of workers during the Industrial Revolution.
It is both intellectually enriching and pastorally enlightening to observe that the name Leo, meaning ‘Lion’ in Latin, embodies a sense of regality, dignity, and leadership within the Catholic Church. The name Leo (Lion) is closely associated with the mission of Jesus, who is honored with the title, “The Lion of Judah” (Revelation 5:5). This beautiful and virtue-oriented name “Leo” has been used by many Popes throughout history, including Pope Leo 1, renowned for his diplomatic efforts with Attila the Hun. Pope Leo XIV’s choice of name suggests his intention to continue the legacy of his predecessors, especially those known for their commitment to social issues and the defense of the vulnerable. Since the promulgation of the Catholic Social Teaching through the remarkable Encyclical Rerum Novarum (The Condition of Labor) by Pope Leo XIII in 1891, nearly all the Popes after Leo XIII have, in various ways, prioritized the well-being of the poor and the promotion of social justice in their Petrine ministry. For instance, following Rerum Novarum, numerous social encyclicals have been issued by Pope Leo XIII’s successors: Quadragesimo Anno (After Forty Years) by Pope Pius XI (1931), Mater et Magistra (Christianity and Social Progress) by Pope John XXIII (1961), Pacem in Terris (Peace on Earth) by Pope John XXIII (1963), Gaudium et Spes (The Church in the Modern World) by the Fathers of the Second Vatican Council (1965), Populorum Progressio (On the Development of Peoples) by Pope Paul VI (1967), Octogesima Adveniens (A Call to Action on the Eightieth Anniversary of Rerum Novarum) by Pope Paul VI (1971), Justice in the World (Synod of Bishops, 1971), Evangelium Nuntiandi (Evangelization in the Modern World) by Pope Paul VI (1975) Laborem Exercens (On Human Work) by Pope John Paul II (1981), Solicitudo rei Socialis (On Social Concern) by Pope John Paul II (1987), Centesimus Annus (On Hundredth Anniversary of Rerum Novarum) by Pope John Paul II (1991) Caritas in Veritate (On Integral Human Development) by Pope Benedict XVI (2009), Laudato Si (On Care for our Common Home) by Pope Francis (2015), and Fratelli Tutti (On Fraternity and Social Friendship) by Pope Francis (2020).
The Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV, surely stands on the shoulders of these great Popes of the 20th and 21st centuries in his pastoral responsibility to make the message of the Gospel relevant to all people of good will, regardless of their socio-political and cultural differences. In one of his first official outings, Pope Leo XIV addressed the members of the Centesimus Annus Foundation, enlightening them on the goals of Catholic Social Teaching. He said, “The Church’s social doctrine is called to provide insights that facilitate dialogue between science and conscience, and thus make an essential contribution to better understanding, hope and peace.” He continued “The church’s social doctrine with its specific anthropological approach, seeks to encourage genuine engagement with social issues. It does not claim to possess a monopoly on truth, either in its analysis of problems or in its proposal of concrete solutions…Where social questions are concerned, knowing how to approach them is more important than immediate responses to why things happen or how to deal with them. The aim is to learn how to confront problems, for these are always different, since every generation is new, and faces new challenges, dreams and questions.” In the light of these insights, the Holy Father Pope Leo proposed that it is important to build a ‘culture of encounter’ through dialogue and social friendship.
As an Augustinian, privileged to draw from the rich intellectual tradition of St. Augustine’s scholarship and the praxis as a pastor in Peru, Pope Leo XIV reminded us that “Those born and raised far from the centers of power should not merely be taught the Church’s social doctrine; they should also be recognized as carrying it forward and putting it into practice…We ought to let the voice of the poor be heard.” He also reminded the conference participants that the Second Vatican Council states in Gaudium et Spes no, 4 that, “In every age, the Church carries the responsibility of reading the signs of the times and interpreting them in the light of the Gospel, if she is to fulfill her mission. In language intelligible to every generation, she should be able to answer the ever-recurring questions which people ask about the meaning of this present life and of the life to come, and how one is relates to the other” (Gaudium et Spes no. 4).
In conclusion of his timely address to this group of scholars and pastors of souls, Pope Leo XIV observed, “In today’s world, there is a widespread thirst for justice, a desire for authentic fatherhood and motherhood, a profound longing for spirituality, especially among young people and the marginalized, who do not always find effective means of expressing their needs.” He further emphasized, “There is a growing demand for the church’s social doctrine, to which we need to respond.” (Address to members of the Centesimus Annus Foundation in the Clementine Hall of the Apostolic Palace at the Vatican on May 17, 2025).
In this pivotal address, we recognize and appreciate Pope Leo XIV’s avowed commitment to the church’s social doctrine. His pontificate cannot be seen as a rupture from the missionary spirit of his predecessors, particularly that of Pope Francis but rather as a clarifying witness, especially addressing objections and misunderstandings. As a renowned Augustinian, we pray and hope that there will be greater clarity of his words and concepts as he continues to stand with the poor and those who are on the peripheries.
This new session of reflection will be dedicated in unveiling the riches embedded in the Catholic Social Teaching, viewed through the lens of Pope Leo XIV’s pontificate.
Ad maiorem Dei gloriam
Rev. Benedict Nwachukwu-Udaku Director of Academic Formation St. Junipero Serra House of Formation.