Leo XIV’s Namesake is Leo XIII
Encyclical Rerum Novarum (1891)
is Pro Capitalism v. Socialism
The Vatican City State, via internet resources 5/08/25
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Pope Leo XIII wrote the encyclical Rerum Novarum in 1891, regarding “rights and dignity” of workers in response to the challenges of industrialization.
The white paper criticized both socialism, and condemned “unchecked capitalism,” advocating for a balance between labor and capital. [LEO XIII – Vatican]
Leo XIII argued that socialism wrongly sought to abolish private property, a fundamental right.
Newly crowned pope, Leo XIV, Cardinal Robert Prevost, selected the title Leo XIV after his namesake, Pope Leo XIII who opposed socialism and secret societies like freemasons.
To that extent, Pope Leo XIV’s political and world view ideology is a good fit with Trump and the majority of American citizens except on the immigration issue. *
Leo XIII’s encyclical from 1891 also supports:
• fair wages,
• more better working conditions; and,
• protection of workers from exploitation.
These doctrines are the foundation of modern Catholic social teaching; and, fits Trump’s policies perfectly!
Pope Leo XIII’s teachings continue to influence discussions on economic justice and workers’ rights today.
There is no reason to believe that Pope Leo XIV’s positions will deviate from his namesake’s, Leo XIII.
Kentucky Authors Included Pope Leo XIII in Book About Vatican in 2006 – scroll down to see excerpt from their book.
Endnotes:
* Pope Paul VI’s encyclicals – March 28, 1967; Populorum Progressio [The Development of Peoples, or Population Growth] decreed open borders, higher taxes on first-world nations to support the world’s migrants and other poor people; and a moral decree for leaders of all nations to follow the papal decree (which President Johnson did). Ibid., A Still Small Voice, Vol. 2, Chp. 7: Presidents Kennedy and Johnson and the Holy See, pp. 375-376, 388 (Enke economics), et. seq.
