Pope Leo XIV regains a suspended title

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Titles can mean something, but they can also be just smoke and mirrors. The supreme shepherd of the Roman Catholic Church has about as many titles as former Soviet officers had medals hanging on the front of their dress uniforms. Pope Francis put some of these titles on standby, and Leo XIV dug one out again.

Some titles moved to the archive

Pope Francis has been humble, even if this has often been superficial, with no investigation into the background or symbolism. This particularly applied to his annual foot washings of a selection of inmates from Rome’s prison.

The previous pontiff had discarded a whole series of titles given to himself by his predecessors over the centuries. However, this only happened around seven years after the beginning of his pontificate, in 2020. He apparently simply wanted to be “Episcopus Romanus” (Bishop of Rome). “Pope” was still acceptable, as was “Pontifex,” as long as the associated “Maximus” was not overemphasized. Among the titles Francis renounced were “Vicar of Jesus Christ” (Vicarius Iesu Christi), “Primate of Italy” (Primas Italiae), “Supreme Pontiff of the Universal Church” (Summus Pontifex Ecclesiae Universalis), and “Successor of the Prince of the Apostles” (Successor Principis Apostolorum).

However, Francis did not eliminate these titles. Rather, he filed them away in the archives.

Leo XIV longs for representation

The current Pope Leo XIV apparently took a tour of this archive, dusted off a few files, and quickly tucked a cover under his armpit to reactivate it. He was particularly fond of the title “Vicar of Christ,” which Leo used in his address to a leading delegation of the Knights of Columbus from the USA on October 6, 2025. (Source).

This is the order whose goal was to spread Catholicism in all its “glory” throughout the United States, even beyond the temporal realm. US President John F. Kennedy, incidentally, was a knight of this order. However, Kennedy declared the separation between church and state to be inviolable. This met with very, very little enthusiasm.

The “deputy” is back

Pope Leo XIV seems to take his role as Christ’s Vicar for granted. In his brief address, he thanked those present, who saw their journey to Rome as a pilgrimage in the “Holy Year 2025,” for their generosity in making charitable projects against poverty possible, and praised:
“They are a visible sign of your continued devotion to the Vicar of Christ“

With his concluding remarks, Leo confirmed his understood position with the standardized phrase “Intercession of Our Lady, Mary, Mother of the Church.” The Church, the “Mystical Body of Christ,” the Son of Mary, the “Heavenly Queen and Co-Redemptrix,” and himself, the Pope, the Vicar of her Son, the Anointed One.

Just one more small step

Another title within the papal collection was only a few strokes away from being officially called “Vicarius Filii Mariae.” This would at least replace the title “Vicarius Filii Dei,” which has likely been permanently relegated to the archives.

The Catholic version of Mary would be more suitable for bringing together the ecumenical movement, especially in Islam. Mary is also more prominent in the Quran than one might expect. After all, Jesus is called “Īsā ibn Maryam” in Islam, meaning “son of Mary.” This is quite unusual, since the father is usually mentioned.

“Christ” – Which one?

How does all this fit together? It is only necessary to consider that the vicarage concerns “Christ,” not “Jesus Christ.” “Christ” can also be a prophet, a king, and a high priest—that is, anyone who has been anointed. The word Christ means nothing else: simply “anointed one.” In Hebrew, “Messiah.”

The title “Vicarius Iesu Christi,” which Francis canceled, has likely been consigned to “eternal dust.”

Such an anointed candidate, who fulfills the criteria of being born on December 25th of a virgin in a rock cave, has been reserved entirely for the Roman Catholic Church since at least the time of Emperor Constantine (Info).

Bible verses from King James Version (1611)