The recently concluded Pope Conclave has chosen Cardinal Robert Prevost as the new leader of the Catholic Church. Here’s what I’ve gathered about him so far.
After only two rounds of voting, Prevost was elected, becoming the first Pope from the United States, taking on the name Pope Leo XIV. He succeeds Pope Francis, who passed away on April 21st.
At 69, Prevost hails from Chicago and was ordained a priest in 1982. He spent a significant portion of his career in Peru as a missionary before serving as the Bishop of Chiclayo from 2015 to 2023. Following this, Pope Francis appointed him as the head of the Dicastery for Bishops and President of the Latin American Bible Committee. In 2025, he rose to the rank of Cardinal.
Interestingly, Prevost holds dual citizenship in Peru and is known to speak five languages: English, Spanish, Italian, French, and Portuguese.
Before entering the priesthood, he studied mathematics at Villanova University, later earning a Master of Divinity from the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago. Notably, he’s the first Augustinian priest elected as Pope.
In 1984, he also achieved a PhD in Canon Law from the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome.
Pope Leo XIV is the youngest Pope since 1978, carrying a significant legacy as the first American Pope.
He chose the name Leo, a name that has substantial historical weight among Popes, signaling potential reformative intentions focused on Catholic social teachings, similar to Pope Leo XIII.
Despite being a registered Republican, Prevost seems to advocate for policies like relaxed immigration measures and climate change initiatives. He also criticized remarks made by Vice President J.D. Vance regarding Christian teaching, reinforcing his active engagement in contemporary issues.
The new Bishop of Rome has shown support for various causes, including gun control and honoring George Floyd through social media posts.
