Pope Leo XIV

Pope Leo XIV, born Robert Francis Prevost on September 14, 1955, in Chicago, Illinois, is the 267th pope of the Roman Catholic Church and the first American to hold this position. He was elected on May 8, 2025, succeeding Pope Francis.

Prevost was raised in a multicultural household, with a French-Italian father and a Spanish mother. He served as an altar boy at St. Mary of the Assumption Church in Chicago.

Prevost spent significant time in Peru, serving as a parish pastor, seminary teacher, and diocesan official. He was the prior general of the Augustinian Order from 2001 to 2013. In 2015, he was appointed Bishop of Chiclayo, Peru. In 2023, Pope Francis appointed him as Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops, a role that significantly elevated his profile within the Church.

Upon his election as pope, Prevost chose the name Leo XIV. In his first address from St. Peter's Basilica, he emphasized peace and dialogue, speaking in both Italian and Spanish. He acknowledged his background as an Augustinian priest and his missionary work in Peru, reflecting his commitment to humility and outreach.