Robert Prevost (69 years old) has been elected as the new Pope, making him the first American to assume the papacy after the late Pope Francis. He will be known as Pope Leo XIV, marking the first time since the 19th century that an American has been chosen as the leader of the Catholic Church.
Following the white smoke rising from the Sistine Chapel chimney, signaling the election of a new Pope, Leo XIV delivered his first address, calling for "peace and bridge-building."
Early Life and Education
Prevost was born in Chicago on September 14, 1955, and spent his childhood and adolescence in the U.S., where he studied mathematics, philosophy, and theology before being sent to Rome by his superiors in the Catholic Theological Union.
He earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Villanova University in 1977.
At the age of 30, he moved to Peru on a mission with the Augustinian order.
Religious Journey and Leadership
Prevost was ordained as a priest by Archbishop Jean Jadot for the Order of St. Augustine in Rome on June 19, 1982, and received his theology degree in 1984.
A year later, he was sent on an Augustinian mission in Peru, where he served as a monastery leader, professor, and judicial vicar between 1988 and 1998.
He returned to Chicago in 1999 and was elected as the head of the Augustinian province "Our Lady of Good Counsel." Two and a half years later, he was appointed as the Prior General of the Augustinian Order.
His election reflects his deep ties to Latin America, especially Peru, as he holds Peruvian citizenship as well.
Rising to the Papacy
In 2014, Pope Francis appointed Prevost as an Apostolic Administrator in Peru, and a year later, he was named Bishop of Chiclayo.
Prevost’s dedication led Pope Francis to recall him to Rome in 2023, where he headed the Pontifical Commission for Latin America and was promoted to Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops, granting him authority over bishop appointments —a prestigious position that boosted his candidacy for the papacy.