Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, an American, was elected the 267th pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church, on Thursday.
Following his election, he took the name Pope Leo XIV. Prevost is the first American ever to ascend to the papacy.
The announcement was made from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica after the traditional white smoke billowed from the Sistine Chapel, was met with applause and awe.
Here are some interesting facts about the new pope:
First American Pope
Pope Leo XIV was born on September 14, 1955, in Chicago, Illinois. He is not only the first American but also one of a very few non-Europeans to lead the Catholic Church.
Scholar and Mathematician
Before embracing religious life, Pope Leo XIV earned a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from Villanova University.
He continued his academic path through theological and canonical studies, culminating in a Doctorate in Canon Law from the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas in Rome.
He’s Multilingual
Pope Leo XIV speaks English, Spanish, Italian, French, and Portuguese, and can read Latin and German.
This was reflected in his international pastoral experience and academic background.
Ordained Priest In 1982
After his ordination in 1982, Prevost joined the Augustinian mission in Peru in 1985 and served as chancellor of the Territorial Prélature of Chulucanas from 1985 to 1986.
Pope Leo XIV was ordained into the Order of St. Augustine and served extensively in Peru, where he was appointed Bishop of Chiclayo in 2015.
His time in South America shaped his concern for indigenous rights, environmental stewardship, and poverty alleviation.
Appointed Cardinal In 2023
Pope Francis appointed Prevost prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops in January 2023, a powerful position responsible for selecting bishops, a position he held until Pope Francis died on April 21, 2025.
On September 30, 2023, Pope Francis elevated Prevost to the rank of Cardinal.
