Pope Leo XIV is Cardinal Robert F. Prevost, an American who was elected as the 267th pope of the Catholic Church on May 8, 2025. Born in Chicago, Illinois, he is 69 years old and the first American to hold the papacy. He chose the name Leo XIV, becoming the first pope to take the name Leo since Leo XIII, who served from 1878 to 1903.
Prevost is a member of the Order of St. Augustine, and his selection of the name Leo may signal a focus on strength and social justice, as the name historically evokes resilience in times of crisis, and Leo XIII was a key figure in Catholic social teaching.
Before his election, Prevost spent much of his career as a missionary in Peru, serving as a teacher, parish priest, and bishop of Chiclayo from 2014. He was appointed apostolic administrator of Callao, Peru, in 2020 and later led the Vatican’s Dicastery for Bishops, a powerful role overseeing bishop nominations worldwide, starting in 2023. He was made a cardinal by Pope Francis in September 2023.
His background includes a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Villanova University and a diploma in theology from the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago, as well as studies in canon law at the Pontifical Saint Thomas Aquinas University.
Prevost’s election followed the death of Pope Francis on April 21, 2025, after which 133 cardinals gathered in a conclave in Rome. White smoke from the Sistine Chapel on May 8, 2025, at 6:07 p.m. local time signaled his election after at least four ballots, with Prevost securing at least 89 votes.
Appearing on the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, he delivered his first Apostolic Urbi et Orbi blessing, emphasizing peace and unity, and gave a special greeting in Spanish to his former diocese in Chiclayo, Peru.
His doctrinal stance is described as moderately conservative, with a pastoral approach. He has opposed gender ideology in schools and same-sex parenting but favours expanded roles for women in non-ordained positions and takes a compassionate stance toward marginalized groups, including the LGBTQ+ community. He supports addressing climate change and defending migrants, aligning with some of Pope Francis’ priorities. However, there are unverified allegations of issues related to sex abuse cover-ups in his Peruvian diocese, though these claims lack conclusive evidence.
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