The election of Pope Leo XIV on May 8, 2025, marked a historic moment for the Catholic Church. Born Robert Francis Prevost in Chicago on September 14, 1955, he became the first American to ascend to the papacy. Though from the United States, he has deep ties to Latin America, especially Peru, where he spent years as a missionary and later served as Bishop of Chiclayo.
His life reflects a strong commitment to both faith and service. He belongs to the Augustinian order, which follows the teachings of Saint Augustine. While not a literal son of Saint Augustine, Pope Leo XIV deeply respects the saint’s ideas and spiritual legacy.
He has a strong academic background. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from Villanova University in 1977, then a Master of Divinity from the Catholic Theological Union in 1982. Later, he went to Rome and earned a doctorate in canon law from the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas in 1987.
His education helped shape his understanding of Church law and leadership. He is also a gifted linguist. He speaks English, Spanish, Italian, French, and Portuguese, and can read Latin and German. This ability helps him communicate with people from many parts of the world and understand documents in older Church languages.
Before becoming Pope, he held important roles in the Catholic Church. In 2023, the late Pope Francis appointed him as Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops, making him responsible for the selection and oversight of bishops around the world. He was made a cardinal that same year.
His career also includes over a decade of missionary work in Peru, where he helped serve poor and marginalized communities. His experience in Latin America gave him a deep understanding of the struggles many people face and helped him build strong connections in the region.
Pope Leo XIV’s papacy reflects the values of his predecessor, Pope Francis. He emphasizes peace, dialogue, care for the environment, and concern for the poor. His first words as pope, “Peace be with all of you,” showed his wish to unite people and build bridges. His support for allowing women a greater role in the Church and his stance on climate change show that he wants the Church to be more open and more active in solving global problems.
However, some of his decisions have not gone without criticism. Questions have been raised about how he handled past abuse cases, with some claiming investigations were not thorough enough. This remains a challenge he will have to address during his time as pope.
Pope Leo XIV is also seen as a down-to-earth person. Friends describe him as kind, humble, and deeply concerned with the poor. He enjoys playing tennis, listening to music, reading, and watching football. He supports the Alianza Lima football team and the Chicago White Sox baseball team.
These personal interests make him more relatable to many Catholics around the world. In many ways, Pope Leo XIV represents a new chapter for the Catholic Church. His American roots, strong ties to Latin America, deep knowledge of Church law, and ability to speak many languages make him a global leader ready to guide the Church through modern challenges. His focus on peace, justice, and dialogue offers hope to many who look to the Church for direction in a complicated world.
