Robert Francis Prevost has made history as the first pope from the United States. The 69-year-old Chicago native was elected following the passing of Pope Francis, taking on the papal name Leo XIV.

Prevost is renowned for his extensive pastoral background and dedication to the Church’s global mission, merging missionary efforts and Vatican leadership in his papal role.

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His tenure in Peru as a missionary and later as the Archbishop Emeritus of Chiclayo has earned him a reputation as a humble leader passionate about addressing the Church’s “peripheries”—areas often neglected by traditional power centers, a focus that aligns with Pope Francis’s vision.

In 2023, Prevost was appointed to head the Dicastery for Bishops, a vital department in the Vatican responsible for overseeing bishop appointments. That same year, he was elevated to the rank of cardinal.

This role provided him with firsthand experience in Church governance and connected him with key figures in the Curia. His leadership—marked by subtle diplomacy and theological insight—quickly set him apart as a prominent figure among American cardinals.

Vatican analysts have long viewed him as a strong candidate for the papacy. The Italian publication La Repubblica described him as “the least American of the Americans” for his calm, pastoral demeanor.

Bridge-Builder Between Cultures and Church Ideologies

Prevost’s international perspective and fluency in Spanish, along with other languages, have enabled him to foster connections across cultures and ideologies. His role as the president of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America further highlighted his commitment to the Church’s global mission.

His background in canon law has been embraced by the more conservative factions in the Church, who look forward to a renewed emphasis on theological matters. His balanced approach and adeptness at navigating the intricacies of Church administration have established him as a significant leader in both pastoral and bureaucratic spheres.

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“We must not rest or turn back,” Pope Leo XIV declared in a recent interview with Vatican News. “We need to discern how the Holy Spirit wants the Church to evolve today and tomorrow, as the contemporary world in which the Church resides is vastly different from ten or twenty years ago.”

From Chicago to the Vatican: A Life of Service

Born on September 14, 1955, in Chicago, Prevost began his religious journey as a novice in the Order of St. Augustine. He earned a degree in mathematics from Villanova University, followed by a master’s in divinity from the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago, and later a doctorate in canon law in Rome.

In 1985, he began a mission in Peru that profoundly impacted his life for the next decade. After returning to the United States in 1999, Prevost served as the provincial prior of the Augustinians in the Midwest and later led the order as prior general globally.

In 2014, Pope Francis named him the apostolic administrator of Chiclayo, Peru, marking a return to a country that significantly influenced his ministry. Nearly a decade later, his appointment to the Dicastery for Bishops in 2023 came amid a reshuffling in the Vatican, during which Cardinal Marc Ouellet resigned after facing unfounded allegations.

As Pope Leo XIV, Prevost now shoulders the responsibility of guiding the Catholic Church through a period of rapid change, continuing to uphold Pope Francis’s vision while integrating his unique global experience and quiet strength on the world stage.

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