
Who is 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.
Elected on May 8, 2025, following the death of Pope Francis, he is the first American to hold the papacy. He chose the papal name Leo XIV, honoring the legacy of Pope Leo XIII, known for his social teachings.
Early Life and Education
Prevost was raised in a devout Catholic family. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from Villanova University in 1977, before pursuing theological studies. He completed a Master of Divinity at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago, followed by a Licentiate and Doctorate in Canon Law from the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas in Rome. His doctoral thesis focused on the role of the local prior in the Order of Saint Augustine.
Religious Life and Ministry
In 1977, Prevost entered the Augustinian Order and made his solemn vows in 1981. He was ordained a priest in 1982 and served in Peru, where he was chancellor of the Territorial Prélature of Chulucanas from 1985 to 1986. He later became the prior general of the Augustinian Order, leading the global community of Augustinian friars. In 2016, he was appointed prefect of the Vatican’s Dicastery for Bishops, overseeing the selection of bishops worldwide.
Papacy
Pope Leo XIV was inaugurated on May 18, 2025, in a ceremony attended by over 200,000 people. In his inaugural homily, he emphasized unity, love, and service, condemning exploitation and marginalization. He chose the motto “In the one Christ, we are one,” reflecting his commitment to ecumenism and social justice.
Since his election, Pope Leo XIV has focused on promoting peace and reconciliation. In his Pentecost address on June 8, 2025, he criticized political nationalism and called for dialogue and unity in the Church and the world. He has also met with the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors to reaffirm the Church’s commitment to safeguarding children and vulnerable individuals.
Pope Leo XIV’s papacy marks a new chapter in the Church’s history, blending traditional Augustinian spirituality with a global perspective shaped by his American background and international experience
