Pope Leo XIV^[b] (born Robert Francis Prevost; September 14, 1955) has been the head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of Vatican City since May 8, 2025. He is the first North American to be elected pope, and the first pope to come from an English-speaking country since Adrian IV, as well as the first American and Peruvian citizen.

Born in Chicago, Prevost spent the early part of his career there working for the Order of Saint Augustine (the Augustinians). He served in Peru from 1985 to 1986 and from 1988 to 1998 as a parish pastor, diocesan official, seminary teacher and administrator. He then returned to the United States, serving as general of the Order of Saint Augustine from 2001 to 2013. He served as Bishop of Chiclayo in Peru from 2015 to 2023. He was made a cardinal in 2023 by Pope Francis. He was appointed prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops, a prominent role that raised his profile as a potential papal candidate,^[1][2][3] and president of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America in 2023.

Following the death of Francis in April 2025, the 2025 papal conclave elected Leo XIV as Francis’s successor on May 8, 2025.

Early life and education

Robert Francis Prevost was born in Chicago on September 14, 1955, the son of Louis Marius Prevost and Mildred Martínez.^[4] His father, who was a United States Navy veteran of World War II and school administrator,^[5] was of French and Italian descent, and his mother, a librarian, was of Spanish descent.^[6][7] Prevost has two brothers.^[7] As a child, Prevost served as an altar boy at St. Mary of the Assumption Church on the far South Side of Chicago.^[7] He completed his secondary studies at the minor seminary of the Order of St. Augustine in 1973. Prevost earned a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics at Villanova University in 1977.^[8]

Prevost speaks English, Spanish, Italian, French, and Portuguese, and can read Latin and German.^[1]

Augustinian (1977–2025)

Deciding to become a priest, Prevost joined the Order of St. Augustine in September 1977, taking his first vows in September 1978 and his solemn vows in August 1981.^[9] The following year, he was awarded a Master of Divinity degree from the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago.^[10] While there, he substituted as a physics teacher occasionally at St. Rita of Cascia High School and also taught math part-time.^[7]

Prevost was ordained a priest by Archbishop Jean Jadot for the Augustinians in Rome on June 19, 1982.^[9] He earned a Licentiate of Canon Law in 1984 and a Doctor of Canon Law degree in 1987 from the Pontifical College of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome.^[8][11]

Prevost joined the Augustinian mission in Peru in 1985 and served as chancellor of the Territorial Prélature of Chulucanas from 1985 to 1986.^[12] He returned to Peru in 1988, spending the next ten years heading the Augustinian seminary in Trujillo. He also taught canon law in the diocesan seminary and served as prefect of studies. Prevost served as judge of the regional ecclesiastical court and a member of the College of Consultors of Trujillo. He also led a congregation on the outskirts of the city.^[13]

In 1998, Prevost was elected provincial of the Augustinian Province of Chicago and returned to the United States to assume that position on March 8, 1999.^[12]

In 2000, Prevost allowed Father James Ray, an Augustinian priest, to reside at St. John Stone Friary in Chicago under a monitor, refraining from public ministry, after the first rectory proposed for his residence was rejected by the archdiocesan review board because it was on the same property as a parish school. Ray had been suspended from public ministry since 1991 due to credible accusations of sexual abuse of minors. Ray was moved to a different residence in 2002 when the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops adopted stricter rules for handling priests accused of abusing minors.^[14][15][c]

In 2001, Prevost was elected to a six-year term as Prior General of the Augustinians. He was elected to a second six-year term in 2007. From 2013 to 2014, Prevost served as director of formation in the Convent of St. Augustine in Chicago, as well as first councilor and provincial vicar of the province of Our Mother of Good Counsel, which covers the midwestern United States.^[13][16]

Bishop of Chiclayo (2014–2023)

On November 3, 2014, Pope Francis appointed Prevost as apostolic administrator of the Diocese of Chiclayo in Peru and titular bishop of Sufar.^[13] He received his episcopal consecration on December 12, 2014 at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Chiclayo.^[17] On September 26, 2015, he was named bishop of Chiclayo.^[8]

On July 13, 2019, Prevost was appointed a member of the Congregation for the Clergy in Rome.^[18] On April 15, 2020, he was named apostolic administrator of Callao in Peru.^[19] On November 21, 2020, Francis named him a member of the Congregation for Bishops.^[20]

Alleged victims of abuse from two priests, dating back to 2007, said that Prevost failed to open an investigation in 2022. According to the Diocese of Chiclayo, Prevost met with the young women in April 2022 and encouraged them to take their case to the civil authorities while opening an initial canonical investigation.^[21]

Within the Episcopal Conference of Peru, Prevost served on the permanent council for the 2018 to 2020 term.^[22] He was elected in 2019 as president of its Commission for Education and Culture. He was also a member of the leadership of Caritas Peru. Prevost had a private audience with Francis on March 1, 2021,^[23] fueling speculation of a new assignment either in Chicago or Rome.^[24]

Dicastery for Bishops (2023–2025)

On January 30, 2023, Francis appointed Prevost prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops with the title archbishop-bishop emeritus of Chiclayo.^[25][26] At the September 30 consistory, Francis appointed him cardinal-deacon of Chapel of Santa Monica degli Agostiniani in Rome.^[27] As prefect he held a key position within the Roman Curia. The office is responsible for evaluating and recommending candidates for the episcopate around the world. This role increased Prevost’s visibility and influence within the Catholic Church, raising his profile ahead of any future papal conclave.^[28]

On February 6, 2025, Francis promoted Prevost to cardinal-bishop, assigning him to the Suburbicarian Diocese of Albano in the Province of Rome.^[29][30]

Papacy (2025–present)

On May 8, 2025, the second day of the 2025 papal conclave, Prevost became the first Pope from North America. He took the papal name Leo XIV, following on from Leo XIII.^[31][32] About an hour after his election, Pope Leo XIV was announced by cardinal Dominique Mamberti, Protodeacon of the College of Cardinals, from the balcony of Saint Peter’s Basilica and then Leo appeared to greet the gathered crowds, give his first address and perform his first Urbi et Orbi blessing.^[33]

Views

Prevost has opposed the ordination of women to the diaconate,^[34] stating not only that it “doesn’t necessarily solve a problem” but that “it might make a new problem”.^[35]

As a bishop^[when?] Prevost opposed the inclusion of curriculum regarding “teachings on gender in schools” in Peru, stating that the “promotion of gender ideology is confusing, because it seeks to create genders that don’t exist”.^[36]

An acquaintance of Pope Leo XIV, Jesus Leon Angeles, noted that he cares for Venezuelan refugees in Peru.^[37]

In 2012, Prevost lamented that popular culture fostered “sympathy for beliefs and practices that are at odds with the Gospel”, citing the “homosexual lifestyle” and “alternative families comprised of same-sex partners and their adopted children”.^[36] After Pope Francis’s 2023 declaration Fiducia supplicans allowed Catholic priests to bless couples who are not married according to church teaching (including same-sex couples), he criticized the practicality of the declaration in parts of Africa where homosexuality is still illegal, saying “our cultural situation is such that the application of this document is just not going to work”.^[38]

See also

• Cardinals created by Francis
• Pope Leo – list of popes of this name
• List of popes

Notes

1. ^ Often translated as “In the One, we are one”
2. ^
   • Latin: Leo XIV
   • Italian: Leone XIV
   • Spanish: León XIV
3. ^ That Ray was allowed to live at the Friary was first reported by the Chicago Sun-Times in 2021, based on documents the Church made public in 2014.^[14]

References

1. ^ Jump up to:^a b White, Christopher (April 30, 2025). “The first American pope? This cardinal has the best chance of making history in this conclave”. National Catholic Reporter. Retrieved May 8, 2025.
2. ^ “Who Could Be the Next Pope? These Are the Names to Know”. Time. May 6, 2025. Retrieved May 6, 2025.
3. ^ “U.S. cardinal’s résumé, demeanor land him on ‘papabile’ lists”. Angelus. April 30, 2025. Retrieved May 8, 2025.
4. ^ “Démission du cardinal Ouellet : un évêque américain placé à la tête du dicastère pour les évêques”. La Croix. January 30, 2023.
5. ^ “Obituaries”. Chicago Tribune. November 10, 1997. p. 6. Retrieved May 8, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
6. ^ “Leo XIV is the new Pope”. Vatican News. May 8, 2025. Retrieved May 8, 2025.
7. ^ Jump up to:^a b c d FitzPatrick, Lauren (May 3, 2025). “From Chicago’s south suburbs to helping choose the next pope”. Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved May 8, 2025.
8. ^ Jump up to:^a b c “Rinunce e nomine, 26.09.2015” (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. September 26, 2015. Retrieved November 21, 2020.
9. ^ Jump up to:^a b “Pope Leo XIV (Robert Francis Prevost)”. Catholic-Hierarchy. Retrieved May 8, 2025.
10. ^ “Bishop Robert Francis Prevost, OSA”. Catholic Theological Union. Retrieved May 8, 2025.
11. ^ “Pope names missionary bishop to head Dicastery for Bishops”. Vatican News. January 30, 2023. Retrieved May 8, 2025.
12. ^ Jump up to:^a b “Robert F. Prevost nombrado Administrador Apostólico en Chiclayo”. Orden de San Agustín (in Spanish). November 3, 2014. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved June 1, 2021.
13. ^ Jump up to:^a b c “Rinunce e nomine, 03.11.2014” (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. November 3, 2014. Retrieved November 21, 2020.
14. ^ Jump up to:^a b Herguth, Robert (February 26, 2021). “Church officials disapproved moving another priest accused of abuse to Hyde Park friary, records show”. Chicago Sun Times. Retrieved January 30, 2023.
15. ^ “Vatican congregation member allowed priest accused of child abuse to live near Catholic school”. PillarCatholic.com. March 16, 2021. Retrieved January 30, 2023.
16. ^ “Augustinians re-elect current Prior General at Chapter meeting”. Rome, Italy: Catholic News Agency. September 11, 2007. Retrieved May 8, 2025.
17. ^ “”Una autoridad debe apartarse de la corrupción, el egoísmo y de enriquecerse a sí mismo””. La República (in Spanish). May 17, 2015. Retrieved November 21, 2020.
18. ^ “Rinunce e nomine, 13.07.2019” (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. July 13, 2019. Retrieved November 21, 2020.
19. ^ “Rinunce e nomine, 15.04.2020” (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. April 15, 2020. Retrieved November 21, 2020.
20. ^ “Rinunce e nomine, 21.11.2020” (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. November 21, 2020. Retrieved November 21, 2020.
21. ^ D’Avillez, Filipe (September 18, 2024). “Cardinal Prevost never investigated abuse claims, alleged victims say”. The Pillar.
22. ^ “Consejo Permanente”. Episcopal Conference of Peru (in Spanish). Retrieved November 21, 2020.
23. ^ “Audiences, 01.03.2021” (Press release). Holy See Press Office. March 1, 2021. Retrieved May 31, 2021.
24. ^ “Curial speculation follows papal meetings with bishops”. Catholic News Agency. March 6, 2021. Retrieved May 31, 2021.
25. ^ “Resignations and Appointments, 30.01.2023” (Press release). Holy See Press Office. January 30, 2023. Retrieved January 30, 2023.
26. ^ “Pope Francis names Chicago native head of Vatican bishops’ department”. The Pillar. January 30, 2023. Retrieved May 8, 2025.
27. ^ “Assignation of Titles and Deaconries to the new Cardinals, 30.09.2023” (Press release). Holy See Press Office. September 30, 2023. Retrieved October 1, 2023.
28. ^ “Who will be pope? Meet some possible contenders”. PBS News. May 2, 2025. Retrieved May 3, 2025.
29. ^ “Resignations and Appointments, 06.02.2025” (Press release). Holy See Press Office. February 6, 2025. Retrieved February 6, 2025.
30. ^ “College of Cardinals: Pope extends terms of dean and vice-dean”. Vatican News. Dicastery for Communication. February 6, 2025. Retrieved February 26, 2025.
31. ^ McElwee, Joshua (May 8, 2025). “Prevost, first U.S. pope, supported Francis and shunned spotlight”. Reuters. Retrieved May 8, 2025.
32. ^ “Pope appeals for peace to ‘all peoples’ in first address”. RTÉ News. May 8, 2025. Retrieved May 8, 2025.
33. ^ Wooden, Cindy (May 8, 2025). “Breaking: Chicago native Cardinal Prevost elected pope, takes name Leo XIV”. Detroit Catholic. Retrieved May 8, 2025.
34. ^ “Who is the new pope? American Cardinal Robert Prevost becomes Pope Leo XIV – CBS News”. CBS News.
35. ^ Mares, Courtney (October 26, 2023). “Cardinal at Synod on Synodality: ‘Clericalizing Women’ Will Not Solve Problems”. New Catholic Register. Archived from the original on May 8, 2025. Retrieved May 8, 2025.
36. ^ Jump up to:^a b Rich, Motoko (May 2, 2025). “There’s Never Been a Pope From the U.S. Could This Cardinal Change That?”. The New York Times. Retrieved May 8, 2025.
37. ^ McElwee, Joshua (May 8, 2025). “Prevost, first U.S. pope, supported Francis and shunned spotlight”. Reuters.
38. ^ Salvosa, Felipe (October 24, 2024). “Same-sex blessings issue highlights need for bishops’ conferences’ doctrinal authority”. CBCP News. Archived from the original on May 8, 2025. Retrieved May 8, 2025.

Wikiquote has quotations related to Pope Leo XIV.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Leo XIV.

• Prevost Card. Robert Francis, O.S.A.. Holy See Press Office. Archived from the original on October 1, 2023
• “Biografía de Monseñor Robert Francis Prevost Martínez O.S.A.” Diocese of Chiclayo (in Spanish). Archived from the original on September 22, 2020.
• “Pope Leo XIV (Robert Francis Prevost)”. Catholic-Hierarchy. ^{[self-published]}
• The College of Cardinals Report: Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, O.S.A