Pope Leo XIV, born Robert Francis Prevost on September 14, 1955, in Chicago, Illinois, is the current head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State. He was elected pope on May 8, 2025, succeeding Pope Francis
. Key facts about Pope Leo XIV include:
- He is the first American-born pope and the first pope from North America
- He holds dual citizenship, being both a U.S. and Peruvian citizen, having spent many years as a missionary and bishop in Peru
- He is the first pope from the Order of Saint Augustine and the second pope from the Americas after Pope Francis
- Prevost was ordained a priest in 1982 and has served extensively in Peru as a parish pastor, seminary teacher, and bishop of Chiclayo from 2015 to 2023
- Before his election as pope, he was prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops and president of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America, appointed by Pope Francis in 2023, and was made a cardinal the same year
- His papal name, Leo XIV, honors Pope Leo XIII, known for developing modern Catholic social teaching during the Second Industrial Revolution
- He emphasized themes such as peace, social justice, synodality, missionary dialogue, and the challenges posed by technological advances like artificial intelligence
Upon his election, Pope Leo XIV called for unity, peace, and outreach to those in distress, continuing the mission of his predecessor
. In summary, Pope Leo XIV is a 69-year-old American-born Augustinian friar with deep missionary experience in Latin America, now leading the Catholic Church with a focus on social justice and global challenges
