'The common good': The last Pope Leo was a champion of the working poor

Pope Leo XIII, who served from 1878 to 1903, significantly impacted the Catholic Church and advocated for workers’ rights, exemplified in his encyclical Rerum Novarum, which called for fair wages and decent working conditions amid the rise of capitalism. This document emphasized the importance of moral values, the dignity of the human person, and the principle of subsidiarity, urging local communities to address social needs rather than relying solely on the state. As Pope Francis honors St. Francis of Assisi by focusing on the marginalized, the selection of the name Pope Leo XIV suggests a potential continuation of concern for labor exploitation, reflecting Leo XIII’s legacy.

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