The Romans have another Pope Leo. Learning the name of the new pope is always the intrigue of the Catholic world.
There have been 13 prior popes named Leo, and more than a handful contributed to the misdirected and sometimes sordid past of the papacy.
Leo the 1st was called ‘Great’ due to his contributions to the Chalcedonian doctrine of the two natures of Jesus. Yet, he also stood for the primacy of the pope at Rome believing Christ gave papal power to Peter alone and that he had received his papal authority from Peter.
This shows how early men departed from the apostolic authority Christ gave to Paul. Peter was never the bishop of Rome (see Rom 15:20; 2 Cor 12:11).
Leo the 3rd crowned Charlemagne emperor creating a precedent for the Roman Church to have control over emperors and kings. (Something declared in papal coronations to this day.)
Leo the 5th was deposed and killed by his successor popes.
Leo the 6th and 7th were popes appointed during a period in the Roman Church known as the “Reign of the Harlots”.
Leo the 8th was one of three popes claiming the position at the same time. He is considered both a false pope (antipope) and a true pope, depending on the year of his rule.
Leo the 9th created the college of Cardinals to elect popes and expanded the authority of the papal chair and the Roman church it leads. This led to the Great Schism. The larger churches of the East and West are divided to this day over the Roman idea of papal power.
The 10th Leo authorized selling indulgences to reduce time in purgatory to pay for the remodel of St. Peter’s Basilica (the same place where the current Leo will be officially installed soon). This so incensed one young priest that he nailed 95 theses and wrote many tracts condemning the acts of Pope Leo and his authority. Leo returned the favor by damning Martin Luther to hell, and anyone else not aligned with the pope of the Roman Church by the edict of Unam Sanctam, which Martin Luther burned in protest.
Leo number 11 was pope for 26 days, becoming sick right after his coronation as the “ruler of the world” and substitute (vicar) for Christ.
Leo the 12th condemned Bible societies of the 19th century saying that the distribution of Scripture had “long been condemned by the holy chair.”
Leo the 13th elevated the use of scapulars, rosaries, and Marian veneration, calling her the “dispensatrix of all heavenly grace”.
Supporters would say that the latest Leo took his name after Leo I, the theologian, or Leo the XIII who brought Catholicism into the 20th century. Afterall, why would he want to be named after the man who fought the Protestants, was appointed by a harlot, or supported the Inquisition?
The history of past Leos is a typical history of popery: plagued with moral and doctrinal problems. (A look at popes named John, Benedict, or Innocent would make anyone run to the hills.)
Every human office is filled with sinners, including the papal chair. Power corrupts, and all need Christ to save them by his grace (not Mary).
But only the Roman popes have assumed blasphemous titles reserved for the Lord, such as “Most Holy Lord”, “Judge of all the earth”, “Holy Father”, “King of heaven and earth”, “Head of the Church”, “Christ on earth”. (Ironically, only a third of all popes hold the title of “saint”.)
It is yet to be seen if the new pope will be better or worse than past Leos. But there is no chance in purgatory that the 14th will start preaching the mystery of Christ, the one Body of Christ, over which there is no pope, but one Head, the Lord Jesus Christ, who now rules over his church from heaven, not Rome.
In service to the Lord in Heaven,
Justin “against all popes” Johnson
Article Index Published: May 10, 2025
Last Modified: May 10, 2025