Pope Leo, Mathematician: Math-Minded Catholics Claim Pope as One of Their Own| National Catholic Register
EWTN News, Inc. is the world’s largest Catholic news organization, comprised of television, radio, print and digital media outlets, dedicated to reporting the truth in light of the Gospel and the Catholic Church. Subscribe for just $49.95 $32.50! The Holy Father is thought to be the first math major to become pope – and math aficionados say it’s about time. “The first American pope” is not the first thing that occurred to mathematician Martin Nowak when the former Cardinal Robert Prevost appeared on the balcony overlooking St. Peter’s Square last month. Instead, he fixed on the Pope’s new name. “Leo” has three letters. And his regnal number — XIV, or 14 — comes after that. Put them together and what do you get? 3 … 1 … 4 — 3.14. “So it’s Pope Pi. That thought came to my mind immediately — we can think of him as Pope Pi,” Nowak, a professor of mathematics and biology at Harvard University and a Catholic, told the Register. Pi — the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter
Pope Leo, Mathematician: Math-Minded Catholics Claim Pope as One of Their Own The Holy Father is thought to be the first math major to become pope – and math aficionados say it’s about time. Catholic mathematicians are having a moment. (photo: Illustration by Register Staff / Source Images Shutterstock) Matthew McDonald Vatican June 5, 2025 “The first American pope” is not the first thing that occurred to mathematician Martin Nowak when the former Cardinal Robert Prevost appeared on the balcony overlooking St. Peter’s Square last month. Instead, he fixed on the Pope’s new name. “Leo” has three
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