American author, speaker and theologian bishop Robert Baron was in the Vatican this week to witness the election of a new Pope. He shared his thoughts with Fox News Digital about the “interesting” new pope name of Cardinal Robert Prebust.
The Pope’s name is very symbolic about how the Pope serves as a leader of the Catholic Church. Usually, the Pope selects the names of predecessors they respect or want to emulate. Prevost ultimately went with Leo XIV in honor of Pope Leo XIII, who served from 1878 to 1903.
“He could have been Francis II, and he would have said, ‘Yes, he’s clearly in Francis’ line.’ He could have been John Paul III, and we would have thought, “Oh, he’s very much on that more conservative line.” He could have been John XXIV, and we say, ‘Yeah, now he’s a real revolutionary liberal,'” Baron said. “The fact that he has returned to this very interesting and crucial figure… Our new Pope wanted a critical engagement with the modern world, not merely “no”, not merely “yes”, but merely acquiescence. ”
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From left to right: Pope John XXIII, Pope John Paul II, Pope Francis I, Pope Leo XIV (Getty Images/Fox News)
Baron pointed out that Leo XIII was a pivotal figure for the timing of his reign. This came at a moment when the Church was fighting the enormous political and philosophical upheaval of the 18th and 19th centuries and the introduction of philosophies such as Marxism, such as the French and the American Revolution.
“The Church’s First Reaction [to these changes] It was very negative. It was a wonderful “no” for modernity. By the end of the nineteenth century, with a certain distance and a certain critical intelligence, the church was more pleased to call it, calling it, and rejoiced in its creative involvement with modernity. And I think Pope Leo on the 13th accurately represents that,” Baron said.
The bishop pointed to Lelam Novarum, a regenerative letter issued by Pope Leo XII in 1891, to promote his point.
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“In that document, [Leo XII] He is a fierce opponent of Marxism, a fierce opponent of socialism and communism, a great advocate for private property and the market economy,” Baron said. At the same time, in the same letter, [Leo XII] It comes out strongly in favour of the right to form a union. He comes out very strongly in favor of what we call a universal destination for goods. ”
The newly elected Pope Leo XIII (right) took the name of the Pope from Pope Leo XIII (left) in the late 19th century. (Getty Images/Fox News)
“In fact, Pope Leo says in that letter that when the requirements of need and validity are met in your life, the rest of what you own belongs to the poor,” continued Baron. “It’s not just a standard, boring, mainstream perspective. It’s a rather innovative statement. But be aware of the nice balance between “yes” to private property, and “no” to socialism and “no” to Marxism.
In conclusion, Baron said he considers Prevost’s Leo XIV’s choice to make the new Pope a “very interesting player” in terms of the right and left debate in politics.
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“[Leo XVI] Baron has not said that he and other great representatives of Catholic social education do not fit into our left and right categories. So I think that’s probably the most interesting thing about him. ”
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