On May 8, 2025, U.S. Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost has been elected as the 267th pontiff of the Catholic Church, adopting the name Leo XIV. This election marks a historic milestone as the first Pope born in North America, reflecting the growing geographic diversity within the College of Cardinals.
Origins and Formation
Born September 14, 1955 in Chicago, Illinois. Son of Louis Marius Prevost, of French and Italian descent, and Mildred Martinez, of Spanish descent.
He completed his secondary studies at the minor seminary of the Order of St. Augustine, later obtaining a degree in Mathematics from Villanova University in 1977. He entered the Order of St. Augustine in 1977, professing his solemn vows in 1981. He was ordained a priest in 1982 by Archbishop Jean Jadot. He continued his formation in Rome, where he obtained a licentiate and a doctorate in Canon Law at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas.
Mission in Peru
In 1985, Prevost began his missionary work in Peru, serving as chancellor of the Territorial Prelature of Chulucanas. Between 1988 and 1998, he directed the Augustinian seminary in Trujillo, taught canon law at the diocesan seminary and served as a judge of the regional ecclesiastical tribunal.
His commitment to the Peruvian community led him to obtain Peruvian citizenship in 2015, consolidating his multicultural identity.
In 2014, Pope Francis appointed him apostolic administrator of the Diocese of Chiclayo and titular bishop of Sufar. He was consecrated bishop in December of that year and, in 2015, he assumed as bishop of Chiclayo. His pastoral and administrative work in Peru earned him recognition within the Church.
Arrival in Rome
In 2023, he was appointed prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops, a key position in the Roman Curia responsible for the selection and supervision of bishops worldwide. That same year, he was created a cardinal by Pope Francis.
Pope Leo XIV has a profound knowledge of the Roman Curia thanks to his extensive and recent experience as an active member of numerous key dicasteries. He was part of the main sections for Evangelization, the Doctrine of the Faith, the Oriental Churches, the Clergy, and Consecrated Life, as well as the dicasteries for Culture and Education and Legislative Texts.
In addition, he was a member of the Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State, which gives him direct knowledge of the central administration of the Church and the governance of the Papal State. This involvement has allowed him to be directly involved in the decision-making processes and in the implementation of reforms promoted by Pope Francis.
The chosen name
Pope Leo XIII (Pope between 1878 and 1903) is remembered for his Marian devotion and for modernizing the social doctrine of the Church and opening a dialogue with the modern world after the confrontation with modernity of the previous pontificate (Pius IX).
His most outstanding legacy is the encyclical Rerum Novarum (1891), considered the foundation of the Social Doctrine of the Church, in which he addressed labor conditions systematically for the first time, defending workers' rights, fair wages, private property and the role of the State in social justice.
Biographical summary
- 1977: Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from Villanova University.
- 1982: Master of Divinity degree from the Catholic Theological Union of Chicago.
- 1984: Degree in Canon Law from the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum) in Rome.
- 1987: Doctorate in Canon Law from the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum) in Rome.
Ordering
- 1985-1986: Missionary work in Chulucanas, Peru.
- 1988-1998: Various roles in Trujillo, Peru, including community prior, training director and teacher.
- 1999-2001: Provincial of the Augustinian Province in Chicago.
- 2001-2013: Prior General of the Order of St. Augustine (two terms).
- 2014-2015: Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Chiclayo, Peru.
- 2015-2023: Bishop of Chiclayo, Peru.
- 2023-present: Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops.
- 2023-present: President of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America.
- May 8, 2025: elected Pope and takes the name Leo XIV.
