In a historic moment for the Catholic Church, white smoke billowed from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel in the evening of 8 May, signaling the successful election of a new Pope. Robert Francis Cardinal Prevost, an American, has been elected by the College of Cardinals as the 267th pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church. He has chosen the name Pope Leo XIV.
The announcement, “Habemus Papam” – “We have a Pope” – was delivered from the central balcony of St Peter’s Basilica by Cardinal Protodeacon Dominique Mamberti. A few moments later, the newly elected Pope emerged to greet the faithful gathered in St Peter’s Square and the millions watching around the world.
“Peace be with all of you!” – those were the first words of Pope Leo XIV.
“Dear brothers and sisters, this is the first greeting of the Risen Christ, the Good Shepherd who gave his life for God’s flock. I too would like this greeting of peace to enter your hearts, to reach your families, to everyone, wherever they are, to all peoples, to the whole earth. Peace be with you!” the Pope said.
The new Pontiff was born on 14 September 1955, in Chicago, USA. His father was of French and Italian descent, and his mother was of Spanish descent. He studied at the Augustinian Minor Seminary, and later at Villanova University, earning a degree in Mathematics and also studied philosophy. In 1977, he joined the Augustinian order, made his first vows in 1978 and final vows in 1981. He studied theology in Chicago and was later sent to Rome to study Canon Law. He was ordained a priest in 1982.
He obtained his licentiate in 1984 and while working on his doctoral thesis, he went to Peru as a missionary. There, over the next decade, he served in several roles, including Prior of the community, Formation Director, instructor for professed members, and seminary professor.
In 1999, he was elected Provincial Prior of the Augustinian Province in Chicago, and two and a half years later, he was elected as the Prior General. In 2015, Pope Francis appointed him Bishop of Chiclayo, and in 2018, he was elected second vice-president of the Peruvian Episcopal Conference. In 2019 and 2020, Pope Francis appointed him a member of the Congregation for the Clergy and a member of the Congregation for Bishops respectively. In 2023, he was called to Rome as Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops and President of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America, and was made an Archbishop. Later in the same year, Pope Francis made him a Cardinal, assigning him the Diaconate of Saint Monica.
At 69, Pope Leo XIV brings with him his experience as a pastor, missionary in the Americas, Canon lawyer, mathematician, and a Vatican official. He is the first Pope from the Augustinian order and the first from North America.
