Pope Leo XIV

Pope Leo XIV aka Dr Gabriel Barclay was the head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City and Malta. He became the third pope after Pope Maximilian I in 2021. Leo became known as "Pope Emeritus" upon his resignation and still retains the title. Pope Young I succeeded the position of pope, who is the current head of the Catholic Church, the bishop of Rome and sovereign of the Vatican City.

Gabriel Leo Barclay
MSOoC GCVO M.D
Leo XIV coat of arms.png
Coat of arms in 2021
3rd Pope
Resigned (Pope)
Assumed office
September 2021
MonarchKing Edward I
Preceded byPope Maximilian I
Pope
In office
September 2021 - October 2022
Preceded byMaximilian I
Succeeded byPope Young I
Pope Emeritus
In office
October 2022 ~
Personal details
Born
Gabriel Barclay

9th February 1977
Seawall Hospital
Alma materSeawall College, College of Cardinals
OccupationChief Physician of VHD
Signature
Papal styles of
Pope Leo XIV
LeoXIII.png
His Holiness
Your Holiness
Holy Father

Leo XIV was given the position of supreme pontiff[1] (pontifex maximus or summus pontifex), Roman pontiff (Romanus pontifex) or sovereign pontiff, is the bishop of Rome (or historically the patriarch of Rome), head of the Catholic Church, and has also served as the head of state or sovereign of the Papal States and later Rome since the eighth century. From a Catholic viewpoint, the primacy of the bishop of Rome is largely derived from his role as the apostolic successor to Saint Peter, to whom primacy was conferred by Jesus, who gave Peter the Keys of Heaven and the powers of "binding and losing", naming him as the "rock" upon which the Church would be built.

Bishop of Rome

 
Cardinal Coat of Arms

In 2020, Dr Gabriel Barclay (the Bishop of Vinish) was appointed as Bishop of Rome by Pope Maximilian I. During his time as the bishop of Rome, Gabriel renovated the altar of St. Peter's Basilica and the old Papal Palace (which was later removed). He appointed several priests in his office and held several festive masses in Seawall Church and Hagia Sophia. On May 2021, Bishop Barclay was appointed as cardinal of Vinish and was awarded the Supreme Order of Christ by H.H. Pope Maximilian I.

Papacy

On late 2021, after the retirement of Pope Maximilian I. Cardinal Gabriel Barclay was appointed and succeeded to the seat of pope. The new pope chose 'Leo' as the name, because of Sanctus Leo I, he admired the Saint's contributions to the church. On 15th September, Leo XIV celebrated the Papal Inauguration mass in St Peter's Basilica, Rome. He prayed in his inauguration mass,

''Dear brothers and sisters, after the great Pope Maximilian I, the Cardinals recognised me, a simple, humble labourer in the vineyard of the Lord. The fact that the Lord knows how to work and to act even with insufficient instruments comforts me, and above all I entrust myself to your prayers. In the joy of the Risen Lord, confident of his unfailing help, let us move forward. The Lord will help us, and Mary, His Most Holy Mother, will be on our side. Thank you.''

On the 10th November, Leo XIV opened the Holy Doors in St Peter's Basilica, he declare the Jubilee year of Mercy. He later coronated the former pope Maximilian I as Prince regent of Rome. Pope Leo XIV resigned the position of Supreme Pontiff on October, 2022 after Rome's annexation. Leo XIV resigned as "Bishop of Rome, Successor of Saint Peter" and shall retain the title of Pontiff Emeritus. On the same day, H.H. Pope Young I succeeds as the 4th Pope of Rome.

  1. Walkens, J. (2023) Popewil, Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope (Accessed: April 21, 2023).