Language experts clarify proper Croatian title for new pope 

The Croatian Language Institute (Institut za hrvatski jezik) has offered guidance on how to correctly refer to the new head of the Catholic Church, providing both linguistic and cultural insight into the name of Pope Leo XIV.

Pope Leo XIV, born Robert Francis Prevost, was elected on Thursday during the 2025 papal conclave, following the death of Pope Francis.

In a statement shared on its official Facebook profile, the Institute explained the origins and Croatian equivalents of the new Pope’s personal names and surname.

The name Robert has been present in Croatian territories since the 12th century, although it was largely used by foreigners up until the 19th century. Of Germanic origin, it can be loosely translated as “bright in glory.”

The name Francis is equivalent to the Croatian Franjo, and is associated with the ethnonym Francuz, meaning Frenchman.

The Institute noted that the Pope has French ancestry on his father’s side, a fact also reflected in his surname Prevost.

This surname originates from Old French, related to the word provost, meaning a superior or head figure—similar to the Croatian word prepošt, found in older ecclesiastical texts.

They also pointed out an interesting coincidence: the surname Prevost sounds similar to the Croatian surname Preost, which is native to the Cetina region, although its exact etymology remains uncertain.

Regarding his papal name, the Institute confirmed that in Croatian he should be referred to as Papa Lav XIV. The form Lav has been documented in Croatian literature since the 16th century, notably in the works of Šime Budinić and Juraj Baraković. For reasons of linguistic tradition and continuity, the Institute prefers this form over the alternative Leon.

“In keeping with his chosen name, we wish the new Pope the courage and authority to help the world overcome its challenges and to use his moral leadership to bring an end to the growing number of conflicts across the globe,” the Institute concluded.