Pope Leo XIV: New Leadership for the Catholic Church

Pope Leo XIV, also known as Cardinal Robert Prevast, was elected as the 267th leader of the Catholic Church on Thursday.

The 69-year-old from Chicago has made history by becoming the first American Pope. His election followed the appearance of white smoke from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel, confirming that he had been chosen by the 133 electors as the successor to Pope Francis, who passed away last month.

“Peace is with you,” he said in his inaugural address, expressing admiration for his predecessor. “We still hear the weak but courageous voice of Pope Francis who blessed us,” he remarked. Calling for unity, he encouraged attendees to “shake hands with God and move forward together.”

Here are 10 things you should know about Pope Leo XIV:

1. Born in Chicago in 1955 to Spanish and Franco-Italian parents, Robert Francis Prevast is the first American pope. Though he holds this title, he is often seen as a Latin American cardinal due to his extensive missionary work in Peru. The Vatican has noted that he is the second pope from America, following Pope Francis from Argentina.
2. Pope Leo holds dual citizenship in both the United States and Peru, having acquired Peruvian citizenship in August 2015.
3. His career includes a decade as a local parish pastor and seminary teacher in Trujillo, Peru, and he later served as the Bishop of Chiclayo from 2014 until 2023.
4. A member of the Augustinian Order, he led the group for over ten years as its general.
5. Pope Francis appointed him as a governing overseer of the bishops prior to his elevation to cardinal.
6. He became archbishop in January 2023, shortly before Francis made him a cardinal.
7. The name he has chosen aligns him with a lineage associated with strong leadership and clear doctrine, referencing Pope Leo XIII who served from 1878 to 1903, known for his intellectual contributions and social teachings.
8. While he shares many of Francis’ views on immigration, poverty, and environmental issues, his stance on LGBT matters remains unclear, leading some conservative groups to speculate he may not be more supportive than his predecessor.
9. Pope Leo earned a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics from Villanova University and studied theology at the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago. He also pursued Canon law studies in Rome and later taught Canon law in Peru.
10. A fan of tennis, he described himself as an “amateur” player in a recent interview. Since leaving Peru, he finds he hasn’t had the chance to play much, but he looks forward to returning to the court. In his free time, he enjoys reading, walking, and travelling to diverse locations.