Robert Francis Prevost, now known as Pope Leo XIV, was elected the new pope on May 8, 2025, following the death of Pope Francis.
His election was met with excitement from the crowd gathered in St Peter’s Square.
Here’s what you probably didn’t know about the first American pope:
1. He was born in Chicago
Robert Prevost was born on September 14, 1955, in Chicago, Illinois, making him the first pope from the United States.
2. He joined the Order of Saint Augustine in 1977
Prevost entered the novitiate in 1977, made his solemn vows in 1981, and was ordained a priest in 1982.
3. He served as a missionary in Peru
After his ordination, he moved to Peru in 1985, where he held various roles, including chancellor and parish pastor, and also led the Augustinian seminary in Trujillo for over a decade.
4. He has a strong academic background
Prevost earned a Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics, a Master of Divinity, and advanced degrees in Canon Law, with a doctoral thesis on the role of the local prior in the Order of Saint Augustine.
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5. He became a global leader in the Augustinian Order
In 1999, he was elected provincial prior in Chicago, and later served as the prior general of the Augustinians from 2001 to 2013, overseeing the order’s global operations.
6. He rose through the ranks in the Peruvian church
Prevost became the bishop of Chiclayo in 2015 after serving as apostolic administrator in the region. He also served as vice-president of the Peruvian Bishops’ Conference from 2018 to 2023 and was the apostolic administrator of Callao in 2020–2021.
7. He held a key Vatican role before becoming pope
In 2023, Pope Francis appointed Prevost to lead the Dicastery for Bishops, which selects bishops around the world. He was made a cardinal that same year, shortly before Pope Francis’ death.
Pope Leo XIV’s long experience in missionary work, seminary leadership, and church governance has prepared him for this new role as head of the Catholic Church.
