It’s been nearly 150 years since the Chair of St. Peter was last graced by one named Leo. On May 8, American Cardinal Robert F. Prevost emerged from the conclave as Pope Leo XIV, choosing a name steeped in the legacy of one of the Church’s most transformative figures, Leo XIII.

While Pope Leo XIV has yet to officially speak on the decision behind taking his chosen name, Cardinal Thomas Collins teases that if his papacy reflects the integrity of his namesake’s predecessor, the Catholic Church will be in good hands. 

“What a wonderful name he chose. (Pope Leo XIII) is one of my heroes, and I always think about what an astonishing man Gioacchino Pecci was. I believe him to be one of the greatest, if not the greatest, pope in modern history,” said the Archbishop Emeritus of Toronto. 

“When I was a little boy growing up in Guelph, my aunts, who had still been around when Pope Leo XIII died in 1903, had a huge book about his life. I remember as a little boy reading that book and becoming a fan of that man and his deep love of the Gospels.”  

Speaking with The Catholic Register shortly after his return to Canada from Rome, where Collins took part in the conclave that chose the new Pope, his’ reflections on the conclave and the towering influence of Leo XIII offer a glimpse into the profound discernment behind a pope’s regnal name and how it may be selected. 

After Prevost secured more than the 89 votes needed for him to become the next Holy Father, he was asked if he accepted, to which he replied yes. Immediately after, he was asked his chosen name, to which Collins said he simply replied “Leo.” 

“ It was stunning to hear and stunning to watch when the Pope took the balcony. All of us came out, and we were at the windows and on the side balconies just looking. You looked out, and there were people all the way down to the Tiber River. It was a stunning sea of people — in the streets, on rooftops, everywhere,” he said. 

During this, Collins continued to ponder with excitement both the meaning behind the new Pope’s choice of name and how quickly he responded with his selection. While he can’t speak for Pope Leo XIV, he wagers that the then-Cardinal would have realized that he was gaining votes during the earlier process, which may have brought his mind back to the topic, even if marginally. 

“I think if a cardinal is planning his papal name, he is in trouble,” Collins said with a laugh. “I always say you go into a conclave mentally as a Pope and come out a cardinal again, but I think all his life, he probably had a great devotion to the astonishingly great Leo XIII.” 

Some of Leo XIII's many accomplishments over his 25-year papacy include the revival of Thomistic studies, his commitment to Scripture while engaging with a growing modern world and the issuing of his 1891 encyclical Rerum Novarum, which laid the groundwork for modern Catholic social teaching by addressing the plight of workers during the Industrial Revolution, advocating for fair wages and safe working conditions. 

“ He was a man of astonishing fruitfulness in leadership, one who gave a vision of clarity that has served us ever since. All the popes since him have been commenting on the work of Leo XIII. Not only that, but when I heard he picked that name and would serve as Leo XIV, I was so happy. What a wonderful sign of the beginning of this papacy.”

As Pope Leo XIV embarks on his papacy following his recent inauguration Mass on May 18, he carries the weight of his name, one synonymous with transformative leadership, as he aims to honour the legacy of Leo XIII through his actions, even as the precise inspiration behind his choice remains his own.

“ I think he will be just delightful, and I am joyful for him as our newest successor of St. Peter,” Collins said. 

Upon learning of Pope Francis’ death while in Guelph, Collins quickly departed from Toronto that night before arriving in Rome where he spent 29 days. During that time, he witnessed the transfer of Pope Francis’ body to St. Peter’s as well as the subsequent funeral and nine days of mourning. During this period, fellow cardinals held general congregations in the Curia Julia senate hall, where all cardinals, including non-electors, spent time discussing the Church’s various needs.

A profoundly useful and interesting experience, he touted the general congregations. He shared a particular discovery that remains on his mind even after returning home to Canada.

“I am the Cardinal Priest of St. Patrick's Parish (San Patrizio), which used to be the National Church for the Irish in Rome, but then the Irish Augustinians left and the American Paulist Fathers came, making it now the National Church for Americans,” Collins said. 

“As it turns out, Prevost, who would go on to become Pope Leo XIV a few days later, is both Augustinian and American. I didn’t know that at the time, but it fascinates me now looking back on that change.” 

Collins went on to describe the process of the two-day conclave, with cardinals first moving to Santa Marta where their electronics were confiscated and isolated rooms were sealed for privacy. The conclave began with a procession and voting in the Sistine Chapel, where Collins described the meticulous voting process and sacred atmosphere.

“When you go up and vote, you look up at The Last Judgment fresco and there is a little card that says in Latin: I promise before Jesus Christ, who will judge me, that the one I am voting for is the one who I think should be Pope,” he said.