This article was originally published by thirdangelsmessage.tv

“When Pope Leo XIV ascended to the papal throne, the choice of his name raised immediate curiosity. He did not choose a modern or popular papal name, but one deliberately echoing Pope Leo XIII, the author of the historic May 15, 1891 Papal Encyclical “Rerum Novarum: On Capital and Labor.”  To the discerning eye, this was not merely symbolic—it was prophetic.

The original Rerum Novarum (“Of New Things”) dealt with the labor question during the First Industrial Revolution. It called for a third way between socialism and capitalism, and advocated for worker protections, trade unions, and Sunday rest—framed within the authority of the Roman Catholic Church. Now, more than a century later, Pope Leo XIV revives that legacy amid a very different revolution: the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

Leo XIII’s Legacy: A Blueprint for Church-State Guided Economics

Pope Leo XIII’s “Rerum Novarum” article was a calculated response to growing unrest between workers and business owners. He framed labor disputes not merely as economic issues, but as moral ones—requiring guidance from the Roman Catholic Church. By calling for regulated capitalism and organized labor (under the Church’s influence), Leo XIII laid the foundation for future Church involvement in economic policy and lawmaking.

Significantly, Leo XIII emphasized:

• The sanctity of private property
• The right of the state to intervene in economic matters
• The moral necessity of Sunday rest
• The value of organized labor and unions

These themes are now resurfacing in the age of AI, automation, and digital surveillance.

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