Biography
Robert Francis Prevost made history on May 8, 2025, when he became the 267th Successor of Saint Peter, the first pope from the United States, and the first Augustinian pope in the history of the Catholic Church.
Born in Chicago, on September 14, 1955, now Pope Leo XIV, was raised in a deeply Catholic family committed to faith, education, and parish life.
He entered the Order of Saint Augustine after he had earned his degree in mathematics from Villanova University and was ordained a priest in 1982.
Much of Pope Leo XIV’s priestly ministry was spent in Peru, where he served as a missionary, educator, seminary rector, parish priest, and Church leader.
His years of service among the people of Peru shaped his pastoral approach and earned him widespread respect throughout Latin America. He later served as Provincial Prior in Chicago and was elected Prior General of the Augustinian Order, leading the worldwide community for two consecutive terms.
In 2014, Pope Francis appointed him Apostolic Administrator and later Bishop of Chiclayo, Peru. His leadership abilities led to increasing responsibilities within the universal Church, including membership in several Vatican congregations. In 2023, Pope Francis named him Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops and created him a cardinal.
Recognized for his humility, intellectual depth, and commitment to pastoral service, Cardinal Prevost was elected pope by the College of Cardinals in 2025.
As Pope Leo XIV, he brings extensive international experience, a missionary spirit, and a commitment to unity, embodied in his episcopal motto, “In Illo Uno Unum” — “In the one Christ, we are one.”
