When the white smoke billowed from the Sistine Chapel chimney in May 2025, the world wasn't just looking at a new Pope. It was looking at a massive shift in history. Robert Francis Prevost—the Chicago-born, math-teacher-turned-Augustinian-friar—stepped onto the balcony as Pope Leo XIV. Honestly, the choice of name was a statement in itself. He didn't pick "Francis II" or "John XXIV." He went back to the "Lion" lineage, specifically echoing Leo XIII, the man who tackled the Industrial Revolution.
People were shocked. An American? A guy who wears an Apple Watch and plays Wordle? But as his papacy has unfolded through 2025 and into 2026, it’s his words that have really stuck.
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He’s got this way of speaking that’s kinda blunt but deeply spiritual. He doesn't sound like a textbook. He sounds like a guy who spent decades in the Peruvian trenches because he did. If you’re looking for the heart of the "American Pope," you have to look at what he’s actually said during these first defining months.
The Famous First Words: "Peace be with you!"
It sounds simple. Basic, even. But when Leo XIV stood before that massive crowd in St. Peter's Square on May 8, 2025, those were his first words as the 267th Bishop of Rome. He wasn't just reciting a liturgical greeting.
He later expanded on this during his first "Urbi et Orbi" blessing, saying:
"It is the peace of the risen Christ. A peace that is unarmed and disarming, humble and persevering. A peace that comes from God, the God who loves us all, unconditionally."
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The "unarmed and disarming" part is what got everyone talking. It’s a recurring theme for him. He’s obsessed—in a good way—with the idea that we’ve weaponized our language. In a world of Twitter (X) wars and geopolitical posturing, Leo XIV is basically telling us to put the verbal guns down.
Pope Leo XIV Quotes on Technology and Artificial Intelligence
You’ve gotta remember that this guy is the first "digital native" Pope. He understands the 21st century because he lives in it. While some previous pontiffs seemed to view the internet as a foreign country, Leo XIV treats it like a neighborhood that needs a lot of work.
One of his most-shared quotes from a 2025 address to media representatives is:
"Let us disarm words and we will help to disarm the world."
He followed that up with a deeper insight:
"Communication is not only the transmission of information, but it is also the creation of a culture."
Think about that for a second. Every time you post a snarky comment or share a meme that mocks someone, you aren't just sending data. You’re building a culture of contempt. Leo XIV is calling us out on that. He’s also been very vocal about AI, warning that "knowledge is useless without love." He’s worried we’re building smarter machines while our hearts are getting dumber.
The "Dilexi Te" Exhortation: Love and the Poor
In October 2025, he released his first major Apostolic Exhortation titled Dilexi Te (I Have Loved You). It was actually a project started by his predecessor, Pope Francis, but Leo made it his own. The document is packed with gems, but one line in particular highlights his missionary roots in Peru:
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"The poor are not a distraction for the Church, but our beloved brothers and sisters, for by their lives, their words and their wisdom, they put us in contact with the truth of the Gospel."
He hates the "savior complex." He doesn't think the Church is "fixing" the poor. He thinks the poor are fixing the Church. He’s said that "titles mean nothing without service" and that "faith—without sacrifice—is noise." It’s pretty heavy stuff if you’re sitting in a comfortable pew in the suburbs.
Why the Name "Leo" Matters for His Quotes
Why 14? Why not 13 or 15?
Well, obviously because there were 13 before him. But he chose the name to honor Leo XIII. That’s the guy who wrote Rerum Novarum in 1891, the foundation of Catholic social teaching on labor and workers' rights.
In an address to the College of Cardinals, Leo XIV explained:
"In honor of Pope Leo XIII, who developed modern Catholic social teaching amid the tumult of the Second Industrial Revolution, I chose the name Leo XIV... as a response to the challenges of a new industrial revolution and artificial intelligence."
He’s positioning himself as the Pope of the "Digital Industrial Revolution." He’s looking at gig workers, the wealth gap in tech, and the loneliness of the digital age. He once told a group of young people:
"God loves us, God loves you all, and evil will not prevail!" It sounds like a Sunday school line, but in the context of global instability, it was meant as a radical act of hope.
Actionable Insights from Leo XIV’s Teachings
If you want to actually live out the "Leo XIV" philosophy, it’s not just about reading the quotes. It’s about the shift in perspective. Here is how you can apply his most recent 2025-2026 insights:
- Disarm your digital presence. Before you hit send on a confrontational email or a spicy social media comment, ask if your words are "disarming" or "arming" a conflict.
- Prioritize encounter over information. Leo XIV says we’re drowning in info but starving for connection. Spend ten minutes in a real, face-to-face conversation for every hour you spend scrolling.
- Look for the "bridge." As the "Supreme Pontiff" (the bridge builder), he’s challenged everyone to find one person they disagree with and find a "common path" for the good of the community.
- Embrace "Small Gestures." In Dilexi Te, he reminds us that no sign of affection is ever forgotten. A small gesture of support to someone suffering is worth more than a thousand "thoughts and prayers" posts.
Leo XIV is still a very new Pope. His legacy is being written in real-time. But if these early quotes are any indication, he’s going to be the voice that tries to pull humanity back from the brink of digital isolation and into a culture of actual, messy, human encounter.