Leo XIII was also the first Pope to come out strongly in favour of the French Republic, upsetting many French monarchists, but his support for democracy did not necessarily imply his acceptance of egalitarianism: "People differ in capacity, skill, health, strength; and unequal fortune is a necessary result of unequal condition. Such inequality is far from being disadvantageous either to individuals or to the community." (Rerum Novarum, 17 ) His relations with the Italian state were less progressive; Leo XIII continued the Papacy's self-imposed incarceration in the Vatican stance, and continued to insist that Italian Catholics should not vote in Italian elections or hold elected office.

Beatifications

He beatified Saint Gerard Majella.

Papal teachings and publications

He is most famous for his economic teachings, in which he argued the flaws of capitalism and communism. His encyclical Rerum Novarum focused on the rights

In his 1893 encyclical Providentissimus Deus, Leo gave new encouragement to Bible study while warning against rationalist interpretations which deny the inspiration of Scripture:

"For all the books which the Church receives as sacred and canonical, are written wholly and entirely, with all their parts, at the dictation of the Holy Ghost: and so far is it from being possible that any error can co-exist with inspiration, that inspiration not only is essentially incompatible with error, but excludes and rejects it as absolutely and necessarily as it is impossible that God Himself, the supreme Truth, can utter that which is not true." (Providentissimus Deus)

The 1896 bull Apostolicae Curae declared the ordination of deacons, priests, and bishops in Anglican churches (including the Church of England) invalid, while granting recognition to ordinations in the Eastern Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox churches. It also condemned Freemasonry.

His 1899 apostolic letter Testem Benevolentiae condemned the heresy called Americanism.

Trivia

• Leo XIII was the first Pope to be born in the 19th century. He was also the first die in the 20th century.
• Leo XIII awarded a gold medal to a fashionable 19th century cocaine-laced wine called Vin Mariani, the drink that inspired Coca-Cola. The dangers of cocaine being unknown, Vin Mariani was also praised and used by many doctors and scientists as well as Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom (1837–1901) and Pope Pius X (1903-14).

• Leo XIII was the first Pope of whom a sound recording was made. The recording can be found on a compact disc of Alessandro Moreschi's singing. He was also the first Pope to be filmed on the motion picture camera. He was filmed by its inventor, W. K. Dickson, and blessed the camera afterward.

• Leo XIII approved the foundation of a Catholic university in the United States in 1887, which became The Catholic University of America.

• At the time of his death, Leo XIII was the second-longest reigning Pope, exceeded only by his immediate predecessor, Pius IX (unless one counts St. Peter as having reigned from the time that Jesus is said to have given him "the keys to the kingdom" until his death, rather than from his arrival in Rome). Leo XIII's regnal length was subsequently exceeded by that of Pope John Paul II (1978–2005).

See also the list of papal coincidences.

Pab Leo XIII Pave Leo 13. Leo XIII. Leo XIII León XIII Leono la 13-a Léon XIII 교황 레오 13세 Paus Leo XIII Papa Leone XIII ლეო XIII Leo XIII Paus Leo XIII レオ13世 (ローマ教皇) Leo XIII Papież Leon XIII Papa Leão XIII Papa Leon al XIII-lea Лев XIII (Папа Римский) Lev XIII. Leo XIII Лев XIII 良十三世