BIOGRAPHY.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!A comprehensive biography of Pope Leo XIV
Pope Leo XIV – Biography
Born: September 14, 1955
Birth Name: Robert Francis Prevost
Place of Birth: Chicago, Illinois, USA
Papacy Began: May 8, 2025
Religious Order: Order of Saint Augustine (O.S.A.)
Nationality: American (also naturalized Peruvian)
Distinctions: First American pope, first Augustinian pope
Early Life and Formation
Robert Prevost was born into a multicultural family in Chicago, with roots tracing to France, Italy, and Spain. From a young age, he was deeply involved in parish life, serving as an altar boy at St. Mary of the Assumption. He studied mathematics at Villanova University, graduating in 1977, before entering the Augustinian Order.
He took his solemn vows in 1981 and was ordained to the priesthood in 1982. He later pursued graduate studies in theology and canon law at the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago and the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum) in Rome.
Missionary Work and Church Leadership
Fr. Prevost spent many years in Peru, engaging in parish work, seminary formation, and pastoral leadership. He became deeply connected to Latin America, even gaining Peruvian citizenship.
From 2001 to 2013, he served as Prior General of the Augustinian Order, the highest leadership role in his congregation, which gave him global pastoral and administrative experience.
In 2015, he was appointed Bishop of Chiclayo, Peru, by Pope Francis, and his leadership in that diocese further deepened his reputation as a humble and capable shepherd.
Curial Service in Rome
In 2023, Pope Francis appointed him Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops, putting him in charge of the selection and oversight of bishops worldwide. At the same time, he became President of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America and was made a Cardinal.
His work in the Roman Curia aligned closely with Pope Francis’s vision for a more pastoral, inclusive, and accountable Church.
Election as Pope
Following the death of Pope Francis, Cardinal Prevost was elected pope on May 8, 2025, during the fourth round of voting in the conclave. He took the name Leo XIV, likely inspired by:
Leo I (“the Great”) – for courage and defense of doctrine Leo XIII – for his focus on social justice (Rerum Novarum) and intellectual engagement with modern society. His election marked a historic moment as the first American and first Augustinian to become pope.
Papal Vision and Style
Pope Leo XIV is seen as a moderate and bridge-building figure—both pastoral and theologically grounded. He is expected to continue Pope Francis’s legacy of:
Clerical transparency and reform
Empowerment of local churches, especially in the Global South Dialogue with the modern world
Strengthening of social justice and care for the people.