Meet Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost: First American Pope To Lead World's 1.4 billion Catholics
Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, a Chicago native, has been elected as the 267th pope of the Roman Catholic Church, taking the name Pope Leo XIV. At 69, he becomes the first American to lead the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics.
Pope Leo XIV
The Roman Catholic Church has named its 267th pontiff—Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, who will now be known as Pope Leo XIV. Prevost, 69, is the first American leader of the world's 1.4 billion Catholics.
Who Is Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost?
Born in Chicago, Cardinal Robert Prevost is known as someone who goes beyond national borders in his service to the Catholic Church. He spent about 20 years working in Peru, where he became a bishop and even became a Peruvian citizen, reported The New York Times.
He later led his worldwide religious group — the Order of St. Augustine. Just before Pope Francis died, Prevost held a powerful Vatican job as an charge of choosing and supervising bishops around the world.
Though American, he spent much of his life abroad. He was ordained as a priest in 1982 at age 27. He earned a doctorate in canon law (the Church’s legal system) in Rome. In Peru, he worked as a missionary, parish priest, teacher, and later as a bishop. As head of the Augustinians, he travelled a lot and speaks Spanish and Italian.
Will He Follow Pope Francis' Foot Prints?
Like Pope Francis, he cares deeply about the poor and migrants, and believes leaders in the Church should be humble. In a 2024 interview, he said “the bishop is not supposed to be a little prince sitting in his kingdom.”Although his style more reserved than Francis’, people close to him think he will continue the inclusive approach that Francis started—where regular churchgoers meet and share ideas with bishops.
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