THE EVOLUTION OF CATHOLIC GOVERNANCE

Team Verconor
May 31
5 min read

As white smoke emerged from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel, a new wave of hope surged in the hearts of the people of Vatican City and followers of Catholicism worldwide. A tale as old as time, this tradition comes alive once more, signalling the election of a new pope, the spiritual leader for all people falling under the umbrella of Catholic belief.

Robert Prevost has chosen the papal name Leo XIV, paying homage to one of his notable predecessors, Pope Leo XIII. While both vicars of Christ share the same first name and commitment to the Catholic Church, they also differ from each other in terms of administration, faith, and theology.

But why do popes change their names? Simply put, the name taken up by a pope indicates the direction of their papacy. Each name has centuries of history woven into it and when dissected, shall reveal layers of meaning. Each name has its own series of achievements and failings, wise choices, or catastrophic mistakes.

Setting that aside, let us first explore each of these figures individually, examining backgrounds, contexts and guiding principles, before placing their pontificates side by side in a comparative reflection.

LEO XIII

Born in 1810 to a noble family in Italy, Vincenzo Gioacchino Pecci, later Leo XIII, was elected the head of the Roman Catholic Church by the cardinals of Pius IX, the 255th pope who reigned the church for 31 years prior. He led the Roman Catholic Church from 1878 to 1903 and was renowned for his intellect and statesmanship during times of great social, political, and intellectual upheaval. He is best known for his landmark encyclical Rerum Novarum, a pastoral letter written by the pope to all members of the Roman Catholic Church on matters of creed and discipline.

LEO XIV

Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, born on September 14,1955, in Chicago, Illinois, was elected as the 267th Pope of the Roman Catholic Church on May 8, 2025, taking the papal name Pope Leo XIV. His election marks a historical milestone and stands as a hallmark of American achievement, being the first pope of American descent in the history of the Catholic Church.

He joined the Order of Saint Augustine, a mendicant religious order of the Catholic church which united harmoniously in brotherhood and spirituality and worship God for the service of his people. It was founded in 1244 by Pope Innocent IV.

MEASURING THEM SIDE-BY-SIDE

CHURCH STATUS

In the case of Leo XIII, he assumed the papacy during an epoch of significant political upheaval, following the collapse of the Papal States in 1870. The papal states, established through the Donation of Pepin in 756, ceased to exist when the Kingdom of Italy captured Rome, effectively dissolving the Pope’s temporal authority.

In the 21st century, the Church remains morally challenged as it struggles to maintain its precept standing during volatile times, especially when it comes to interpreting scriptures regarding sexuality and gender. Many modern beliefs clash with traditional church teachings, which leaves papal authority in a state of ambiguity. The Catholic Church’s influence is now wavering in global civil association and is being forced to reconsider how to continue as a moral advocate in society.

THEOLOGY

The Church of the 19th century emphasised on Thomism, that is the theology of Thomas Aquinas or his followers. To elaborate, Pope Leo XIII published an encyclical, Aeterni Patris (1879) in which he investigated the teachings of St. Thomas Aquinas, who was the leading voice of Scholasticism, which emphasized structured reasoning, dialectical analysis, and the harmonization of faith and reason. Aeterni Patris called for a revival of Thomistic philosophy in catholic education and declared Aquinas as the model teacher of philosophy and theology.

In contrast to the more philosophical approach followed by Leo XIII, Pope Leo XIV sheds light on pastoral theology, a branch of practical theology concerned with the integration of religion within the context of the regular functioning of the Church. Rather than developing new doctrines, pastoral theology draws conclusions from various theological disciplines and systematically weaves them into pastoral practice. Leo XIV believes that pastoral theology recognizes the challenges of our century, ranging from secularization to mental health and environmental degradation. He affirms that the credibility of the church will not be ascertained based on its teachings, but rather on how wisely it serves.

FAITH

Leo XIII, as previously mentioned, published Rerum Novarum. RERUM NOVARUM is the first social encyclical promulgated by Pope Leo XIII in 1891. Concerned with the harsh conditions the working class endured, both in the long hours of labour and in their squalid living environments, Rerum Novarum addressed the social and economic challenges brought about by unrestrained capitalism during the Industrial Revolution. In it, Pope Leo XIII sought a via media, or middle path, between socialist state control and capitalist laissez-faire.

Leo XIV continues to champion for the causes his predecessors had. He recognizes the concern about climate change and urges followers of his faith to opt for environmentally friendly resources in their everyday lives. He has praised the Vatican’s effort to reduce carbon footprint through installing solar panels and driving electric vehicles. He preaches for global solidarity in trying times such as our own and drives communities to work together for climate change.

ADMINISTRATION AND GOVERNANCE

Lastly, let us go over administrative practices of two Popes. A significant amount of change is expected, for the time periods of our two pontiffs are vastly dynamic.

Leo XIII encouraged discussion and remained cordial with his fellow cardinals during the decision-making process. However, when push came to shove, the collaborative narrative of the Church was quickly dispelled, and, in its place, came a hierarchal methodology wherein ultimate decisions were made under the jurisdiction of the Holy See. He maintained strong influence over appointment of bishops, even in areas where historically, local governments had led the way.

On the other hand, Leo XIV is known to be a pragmatic thinker. His leadership style is more collaborative, seeking opinions from all and taking various perspectives into account before deciding. His approach focuses on synodality, which is the process of fraternal collaboration among all members of the Church, including bishops, priests and the laity (non-ordained members, for example, nuns). He has begun by challenging the views of Donald Trump and J D Vance, urging respect for the lives of migrants and compassion for their decision for wanting a better livelihood in a first-world country.

CONCLUSION

Although a century apart, Leo XIII and Leo XIV offer two distinct yet complementary models of papal leadership, both striving for what is right in their own eras of turbulence. While Leo XIII offered clarity and credibility, Leo XIV is working towards rebuilding trust between the hierarchy and the faithful. Together, their legacies teach us the everlasting ability of learning to adapt; not by abandoning tradition, but rather by interpreting it in a way that is inclusive to meet the needs of our times.