Robert Francis Prevost, born September 14, 1955, in Chicago, Illinois, is the 267th pope of the Catholic Church, taking the papal name Leo XIV
. He is the first American-born pope in history and also holds Peruvian citizenship, reflecting his extensive missionary work and leadership roles in Peru
. Prevost entered the Order of Saint Augustine in 1977 and was ordained a priest in 1982. He spent many years as a missionary in Peru, serving as a parish pastor, seminary educator, and bishop of Chiclayo from 2015 to 2023
. He was elected prior general of the Augustinians from 2001 to 2013 and later appointed by Pope Francis in 2023 as prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops and president of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America, becoming a cardinal the same year
. As pope, Leo XIV is noted for his alignment with Pope Francis' vision, emphasizing synodality, missionary dialogue, social justice, and addressing modern challenges such as climate change and technological advances
. His papal name honors Pope Leo XIII, reflecting a commitment to social teaching in the context of the contemporary era
. In summary, Robert Prevost is a Chicago-born Augustinian friar and missionary who rose through the Church's ranks in Peru and the Vatican to become Pope Leo XIV, the first pope from the United States and the first Augustinian pope
