History was made once again in the Vatican as Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, a Chicago-born cleric with deep missionary roots in Peru, was elected Pope, taking the name Leo XIV. He is the first Augustinian ever to be elected to the papacy and the Pope is from the Americas, following in the footsteps of Pope Francis.
Born on September 14, 1955, in Chicago, Illinois, Pope Leo XIV comes from a diverse heritage—French, Italian, and Spanish—and a lifelong commitment to religious service. After entering the Augustinian Order in 1977, he made his solemn vows in 1981 and was ordained a priest in Rome the following year.
His academic and pastoral path was wide-ranging: from studying Canon Law in Rome to serving as a missionary and judicial vicar in Peru, where he also taught theology and served impoverished parishes. For over a decade, he was based in Trujillo, helping to shape young Augustinian vocations while also engaging in parish work in underserved communities.
In 1999, he was elected Provincial Prior of the Augustinians in Chicago and later became Prior General of the worldwide Augustinian Order for two terms. His deep knowledge of Church structure and missionary zeal caught the attention of Pope Francis, who named him Bishop of Chiclayo, Peru, in 2015.
By 2023, he had been promoted to Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops and later created Cardinal in 2024, with growing responsibilities in global Church governance, including roles in several Vatican dicasteries and commissions.
His papal motto, In Illo uno unum (“In the One, we are One”), reflects his Augustinian roots and theological emphasis on unity in Christ. Known for his humility, pastoral compassion, and dedication to reform, Pope Leo XIV now leads the Catholic Church at a time of global transformation and spiritual seeking.
