Pope Leo XIV chose his papal name in honor of Pope Leo XIII, a pope renowned for his intellectual contributions, social teaching, and efforts to bridge the Church with the modern world. By selecting this name, Pope Leo XIV signals a desire to continue fostering faithful dialogue, upholding the dignity of the poor and vulnerable, and renewing the Church’s intellectual and pastoral mission in alignment with its rich tradition.

Pope Leo XIII had established modern Catholic social teaching, especially advocating for labor rights in his encyclical Rerum Novarum during the Industrial Revolution. Pope Leo XIV sees himself responding similarly to the current technological revolution, especially developments in artificial intelligence. He aims to address the challenges AI poses to human dignity, justice, and labor, continuing the Church’s engagement with contemporary issues as his namesake did during his time.

In summary, Pope Leo XIV’s choice of regnal name reflects his intention to build on the legacy of Leo XIII by promoting social teaching in today’s context, emphasizing dialogue, social justice, and addressing new global challenges like AI while continuing the Church's mission.