Washington DC –  Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost was elected head of the Catholic Church and takes the name Pope Leo XIV, on Thursday, May 8th.

Eric LeCompte, Executive Director of the religious development group Jubilee USA Network, who advises Vatican and Catholic Church leadership, releases the following statement:

"Cardinal Prevost is a strong voice for the Catholic Church's social mission to address poverty.

"As Prevost takes the name Leo XIV, he will follow the path that Francis set to build a more inclusive and transparent Church.

"The selection of the name of Leo XIV is a special acknowledgement of the need to support the poor and workers. 

"Leo XIII, the previous Pope Leo, was the author of the Encyclical Rerum Novarum which became the Church's primary teaching on the rights of workers and those who struggle for a better life and to live in dignity.

"The new Pope has a strong sense of how important the global Church is to address global challenges.

"Coming from the Augustinian religious order, Leo XIV will bring a commitment to building a world where we all have enough.

"Pope Francis followed previous Popes in establishing debt relief to address poverty as a key focus for the Church's Jubilee holy year that's taking place this year. Pope Leo XIV will continue that focus for this holy year."