Pope Leo XIV goes against Francis in his first gesture, says Ilze Scamparini: 'He is no longer satisfactory'
The election of Robert Francis Prevost as the new leader of the Catholic Church has already begun to provoke reflections (and tensions) in the Vatican. During live coverage by Jornal Hoje, this Thursday (8), journalist Ilze Scamparini , Globo's correspondent in Rome , highlighted a symbolic gesture that points to a delicate rupture: the new pope ignored an expressed wish of his predecessor, Pope Francis (1936-2025), when choosing his pontifical name.
"One of Pope Francis' wishes has not been fulfilled, because Pope Francis twice referred to his successor as John XXIV. He preferred Leo XIV. Let's see what this will mean," said Ilze, in conversation with César Tralli. The choice of Leo XIV surprised not only the faithful, but also those behind the scenes of the Church.
The weight of names: tradition, rupture and signs
In Catholicism, the choice of a pontifical name is loaded with symbolism. It is not just a title; it is a statement about the leadership style that the new pope intends to exercise. By adopting a name used by 13 previous pontiffs, Prevost appears to be distancing himself from Francis' pastoral, synodal and reformist tone, and rescuing a more institutional and doctrinal tradition.
The journalist, with decades of experience covering the Vatican, avoided speculating too much about the meaning of the chosen name. "Look, I think we'll have to wait a little bit to understand, let's see what he's going to propose," said Ilze.
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