Pope Leo XIV

Born Robert Francis Prevost on September 14, 1955, in Chicago, Illinois, he is the son of Mildred (née Martínez) Prevost and Louis Marius Prevost. His father was of Italian and French descent, while his mother's ancestry included African, French, and Spanish roots from Louisiana Creole parents. Prevost earned a Bachelor of Science in mathematics from Villanova University in 1977 before pursuing theological studies, obtaining a Master of Divinity from Catholic Theological Union in Chicago. He furthered his education in Rome, receiving both a Licentiate and a Doctor of Canon Law from the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas. Prevost dedicated his early clerical career to the Order of Saint Augustine, serving extensively in Peru from 1985 to 1986 and again from 1988 to 1998, where he held various roles including parish pastor, diocesan official, seminary teacher, and administrator. He was later elected Prior General of the Order of Saint Augustine, serving from 2001 to 2013. Following his tenure as Prior General, Prevost returned to Peru, serving as Bishop of Chiclayo from 2015 to 2023. In 2023, Pope Francis appointed him Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops and President of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America, roles that significantly elevated his profile within the Church, and he was created a cardinal in the same year. On May 8, 2025, Cardinal Prevost was elected Pope during the papal conclave following the death of Pope Francis, choosing the papal name Leo XIV. His election marked several historical firsts: he is the first North American pope, the first from an English-speaking country since Adrian IV in the 12th century, and the first pope with Black African ancestry. He is also the first American and Peruvian (naturalized) pope, holding dual nationality, and the first pope from the Order of Saint Augustine. Pope Leo XIV is the first pontiff to bear the name Leo since Leo XIII, who died in 1903, and the first pope born after World War II. He is known for his fluency in multiple languages, including English, Spanish, Italian, French, and Portuguese, and his ability to read Latin and German. His theological positions include opposition to the ordination of women to the diaconate, euthanasia, abortion, and the death penalty. While critical of "gender ideology" and certain aspects of the "homosexual lifestyle," he has also stated that being homosexual is "not a crime" and that the criminalization of the LGBT community is "wrong."