On May 8, 2025, the Roman Catholic Church made history with the election of Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost as Pope Leo XIV, the first US-born pope and the first from the Order of Saint Augustine.
The 69-year-old Chicago native, also a naturalized Peruvian citizen, emerged as the 267th pontiff after a two-day conclave, succeeding Pope Francis, who died on April 21. Leo XIV’s selection, marked by white smoke from the Sistine Chapel, has sparked global celebration and scrutiny, given his unique background and the challenges facing the Church.
Background of Pope Leo XIV
Born on September 14, 1955, in Chicago, Illinois, Robert Francis Prevost grew up in Dolton, a south suburb, in a devout Catholic family. His father, Louis Marius Prevost, a World War II Navy veteran of French and Italian descent, served as a school superintendent. His mother, Mildred Agnes Martínez, a librarian of Spanish and Louisiana Creole heritage, hailed from a family that migrated from New Orleans.
Prevost’s multicultural roots—French, Italian, Spanish, and Creole—reflect the US’s melting pot, a point emphasized by genealogists tracing his lineage to Haiti and the Dominican Republic through his maternal grandfather.
Prevost’s early life was steeped in faith. His family was active at St. Mary of the Assumption Parish, where they servedas musicians, altar boys, and lectors. As a child, he played at celebrating Mass with his brothers, Louis Martin and John Joseph, foreshadowing his vocation.
He joined the Order of Saint Augustine in 1977, becoming a friar and later a priest in 1982. His academic journey included a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Villanova University (1977), a master’s in divinity from Catholic Theological Union in Chicago (1982), and a doctorate in canon law from the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome (1987).
Prevost’s ministry was profoundly shaped by his missionary work in Peru, where he served from 1985–1986 and from 1988–1998 as a parish pastor, seminary teacher, and diocesan official. He became a naturalized Peruvian citizen in 2015, reflecting his deep connection to the country. Appointed Bishop of Chiclayo in 2014, he served until 2023, earning praise for his outreach to the poor but facing criticism over handling sexual abuse allegations from 2007. Victims claimed he failed to thoroughly investigate priests Ricardo Yesquén and Eleuterio Vásquez Gonzáles, though the Diocese of Chiclayo maintained Prevost followed protocol and supported victims’ legal efforts.
From 2001 to 2013, Prevost led the Augustinian order as the prior general, overseeing its global operations. In 2023, Pope Francis appointed him prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops and president of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America, roles that positioned him as a key figure in selecting bishops worldwide. He was made a cardinal in September 2023, elevating his profile before the conclave.
The Conclave and Election
The 2025 papal conclave, held May 6–8, involved 133 cardinal electors, the largest ever, requiring at least 89 votes for a two-thirds majority.
Prevost emerged as a compromise candidate on the fourth ballot, defying expectations that a US cardinal would be overlooked due to America’s geopolitical dominance.
His global experience, fluency in five languages (English, Spanish, Italian, French, Portuguese, plus some German and Quechuan), and alignment with Francis’s reforms—particularly on environmental issues, migrants, and the poor—likely swayed voters.
At 6:07 PM CEST on May 8, white smoke signaled the election, followed by Cardinal Dominique Mamberti’s ‘Habemus Papam’ proclamation from St. Peter’s Basilica. Prevost chose the name Leo XIV, inspired by Pope Leo XIII (1878–1903), whose encyclical Rerum Novarum laid the foundation for modern Catholic social teaching. In a May 10 statement, Leo XIV explained his choice, citing Leo XIII’s focus on social justice amid the Industrial Revolution and drawing parallels to today’s challenges with artificial intelligence and robotics.
First Actions and Vision
Appearing on the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, Leo XIV greeted the crowd with ‘Peace be with you,’ speaking in Italian and Spanish but notably not English, emphasizing his global identity. He wore the traditional papal red stole and mozzetta, unlike Francis, signaling a return to certain ceremonial norms. His first address paid tribute to Francis, calling for a ‘missionary church’ that builds bridges and welcomes all, themes echoed in his episcopal motto, In Illo Uno unum(In the One, We Are One).
On May 9, Leo XIV celebrated his first Mass in the Sistine Chapel, warning against a lack of faith and envisioning the Church as a beacon for the world. His first homily in English on May 10 addressed artificial intelligence as a ‘main challenge for humanity,’ urging ethical reflection.
On May 11, during his first Regina Caeli prayer, he called for peace in Ukraine and Gaza, marking the 80th anniversary of World War II’s end with a plea: ‘Never again war.’ He also visited the Basilica of Saint Mary Major, praying at Pope Francis’s tomb and the Salus Populi Romani icon, a nod to his predecessor’s traditions.