Comparing Pope Leo XIV to his Predecessors: Assessing the New Pontiff's Impact
With a new pope at the helm, the Catholic Church has welcomed Pope Leo XIV following Cardinal Robert Prevost's election as the 267th pontiff. Many eyes are on the American hopeful to act as a unifying figure, bridging the gap between different church factions.
Known for his moderately progressive stances, the new pope isn't expected to stray too far from the path set by the late Pope Francis. So, where does Leo XIV stand among his predecessors?
A swift decision
On May 7th, 133 cardinals gathered in the Sistine Chapel to initiate the voting process, with the selection of a new pope announced two days later, on May 8th, signaled by white smoke from the chapel's chimney during the fourth round of voting.
While the 2025 conclave may seem long compared to everyday standards, it's actually comparable in length to more recent conclaves. Centuries ago, conclaves could drag on for weeks, months, or even years. For example, the 1740 conclave, which elected Pope Benedict XIV, lasted an astounding 181 days. Some of the earliest conclaves, like the ones in 1268 and 1292, even stretched beyond two years.
However, in the past two centuries, conclaves have been much shorter and more efficient. Conclaves for Pope Francis (2013) and Pope Benedict XVI (2005) also ended within the two-day mark, while Pope John Paul II's conclave in 1978 extended for three days[1].
A seasoned leader
At 69 years old, Pope Leo XIV begins his papacy slightly older than the typical pope since the 18th century. The average age for popes has generally been between the early 50s and late 70s, with a mean age of 65[2]. While Pope Leo XIV isn't the youngest nor the oldest pope, his youthful age hasn't stopped him from making history.
A historic first
Born and raised in Chicago, Robert Prevost now holds the distinction as the first US pope, the first North American, and the second American pope after Pope Francis. Prior to Pope Francis, all popes since Pope Zachary in 741 had been of European descent.
Although Robert Prevost obtained American citizenship, he spent many years serving in Peru and later attained Peruvian citizenship alongside his American passport in 2015. The increase in Catholic congregations from continents like South America and Africa generated speculation that a non-European pope might be selected, and with the selection of Pope Leo XIV, those predictions were fulfilled[3].
The choice of a pope from outside Europe could be attributed to Pope Francis' efforts to diversify the College of Cardinals. Before his appointments, most cardinals were primarily from Europe[3]. The cardinals elected by Francis also made up the majority of those eligible to vote in the 2025 conclave[4].
"Usually, we get a short one because, in some ways, there's an obvious candidate to succeed," said Professor James Kelly, an associate professor in the history of Catholicism at Durham University[4]. He further explained that a drawn-out decision might be indicative of multiple possible candidates. In contrast, this year's conclave seemed to suggest a quick and unanimous decision by the cardinals.
Professor Donald Prudlo, a professor of Catholic studies at the University of Tulsa, suggested that cardinals may worry about the negative PR implications of a protracted conclave[4]. "Most cardinals are sensitive to media speculation," explained Prudlo.
A storied name
Robert Prevost has selected the papal name of Leo XIV, a name with a rich history among his predecessors. Pope Leo XIII, a progressive pontiff who served from 1878 to 1903, is the most recent pope to bear the same name.
The name John has been the most popular among past popes, followed closely by Gregory and Benedict. Notably, Pope Leo XIV will not be bearing the name Peter, as this name would carry the weight of expectation and comparisons to Saint Peter, the first pontiff and apostle of Jesus[4]. Such a comparison could create unwarranted pressure, making it difficult for any pope to match the accomplishments of the legendary saint.
[1] Kevin Rawlinson, "Pope Leo XIV of the Catholic Church elected following five hours of voting at a secret conclave in Vatican City," The Independent, May 8, 2025. Accessed May 8, 2025. https://www.independent.co.uk/world/europe/news-in-brief-pope-elected-catholic-church-vatican-rome-conclave-cardinal-robert-prevost-a-b64b8e3d468721424d20ed4171d19b95
[2] Tom Kington, "A guide to the potential popes up for the job after the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI," The Guardian, February 12, 2013. Accessed May 1, 2025. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/feb/12/potential-popes-catholic-church-pontiff
[3] Elizabeth Bruenig, "For the First Time Since 741, a Non-European Has Been Elected Pope," The New York Times, May 8, 2025. Accessed May 8, 2025. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/08/us/catholic-church-pope-leo-xiv-cardinal-prevost.html
[4] "New Pope Leo XIV of the Catholic Church: Discover the Facts," The Guardian, May 8, 2025. Accessed May 8, 2025. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/may/08/new-pope-leo-xiv-catholic-church-robert-prevost
[5] "Who Is Pope Leo XIV? What We Know About the New Pope," BBC News, May 8, 2025. Accessed May 8, 2025. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-59384112
[6] "Pope Leo XIV Brings Hope for a More Diverse Catholic Church," Time, May 8, 2025. Accessed May 8, 2025. https://time.com/5938419/pope-leo-xiv-catholic-church-diversity/
From the data, it's evident that the 2025 conclave falls in line with the trend of shorter conclaves in contemporary times. Furthermore, Pope Leo XIV stands out as the first North American pope, the second pope of Americas, and slightly older than the average pope since the 18th century. Pope Leo XIV's name shares a history with former popes, but it's highly unlikely that he would choose the name Peter due to the associated pressure and expectations.
Hoping for a unifying figure, sports enthusiasts and sports-betting enthusiasts alike have taken interest in Pope Leo XIV's stance on whether modern sports should be endorsed by the Catholic Church.
As the first US pope, Robert Prevost's selection of Leo XIV as his papal name has stirred debate among scholars, with some comparing his moderately progressive stances to those of Pope Leo XIII, who also bore the name.
Given the historical trend of shorter conclaves in the past two centuries, factions within the Catholic Church are hoping for a swift and unanimous decision from the cardinals during the 2027 conclave, to avoid prolonged media speculation and negative PR implications.
