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Pope Leo XIV (born Robert Francis Prevost; September 14, 1955) is the bishop of Rome, head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State. He was elected pope in the 2025 conclave on May 8, following the death and funeral of Pope Francis.

Born in Chicago, Illinois, United States, and raised in a town near the city’s South Side, Prevost became a friar of the Order of Saint Augustine in 1977 and was ordained priest in 1982. His service has included extensive missionary work in Peru from 1985 to 1986 and from 1988 to 1998, where he variously served as a parish pastor, diocesan official, seminary teacher, and administrator. Elected prior general of the Order of Saint Augustine from 2001 to 2013, he later returned to Peru 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.

In pre-conclave speculation, Prevost was considered a dark horse compared to more prominent papabili, although he was noted to be an ally of Pope Francis and a possible compromise candidate. His American nationality had been regarded as a potential stumbling block to his candidacy, reflecting unease about enhancing the United States’ geopolitical power. Supporters argued that he represented a “dignified middle of the road”.

Prevost was elected pope on May 8, 2025, the second day of the conclave, on the fourth ballot. White smoke appeared from the Sistine Chapel at 18:07 CEST (UTC+2), signifying to the public that a pope had been chosen. After accepting his election and adopting his papal name, Leo embraced his fellow cardinals upon exiting the Sistine Chapel. Cardinal Dominique Mamberti, the cardinal protodeacon, made the traditional Latin proclamation, Habemus papam, from the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, announcing to the public the new pontiff’s name of Leo XIV. 

Leo appeared in the traditional papal embroidered stole and mozzetta vestments which had not been worn by Pope Francis after his election in 2013 and during his subsequent pontificate. He then delivered his first address in Italian and Spanish, where he expressed gratitude for the legacy of Pope Francis, and imparted his first Urbi et Orbi blessing in Latin. 

The Vatican described Leo as the first pope from the Order of Saint Augustine and the second pope from the Americas (after Pope Francis), as a dual citizen of Peru and the United States. He has been described by the media as the first American pope, in the sense of being the first born in the United States. He is the second to be a native English speaker, after the English Adrian IV (r. 1154–1159). Leo is also the first pope born after World War II, and the 267th overall. While Leo is the first pope from the Order of Saint Augustine, six previous popes belonged to other orders which follow the Augustinian Rule. 

 

 

Photo Credit : TIZIANA FABI