On 8 May 2025, the feast day of Our Lady of the Rosary of Pompeii, Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost (69) was elected as the 267th Pope. He is the first Pope born in the United States and has chosen the name Leo XIV.
Here is a brief biography
Birth: 14 September 1955, Chicago (Illinois, USA)
Family: Louis Marius Prevost (of French and Italian origin) and Mildred Martínez (of Spanish origin); brothers Louis Martín and John Joseph
Languages: English, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese and French; reads Latin and German
Nickname in Peru: ‘Latin Yankee’ – a summary of his dual cultural identity
Citizenship: American and Peruvian
Education
– Augustinian minor seminary (1973)
– Bachelor’s degree in Mathematical Sciences, Villanova University (1977)
– Master of Divinity, Catholic Theological Union, Chicago (1982)
– Licentiate in Canon Law, Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas – Angelicum (1984)
– Doctorate in Canon Law, Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas – Angelicum (1987), with a thesis entitled: ‘The role of the local prior of the Order of St. Augustine’
– Religious profession: novitiate of Saint Louis of the Province of Our Lady of Good Counsel of the Order of Saint Augustine (1977)
– Solemn vows (29 August 1981)
– Priestly ordination: 19 June 1982, Rome (by Archbishop Jean Jadot)
Ministry and main appointments
1985-1986: Missionary in Chulucanas, Piura (Peru)
1987: Director of vocations and director of missions of the Augustinian Province ‘Mother of Good Counsel’ in Olympia Fields, Illinois (USA)
1988: Sent to the mission in Trujillo (Peru) as director of the joint formation program for Augustinian aspirants from the Vicariates of Chulucanas, Iquitos, and Apurímac
1988-1992: Director of the community
1992-1998: Teacher of professed friars
1989-1998: Judicial Vicar in the Archdiocese of Trujillo, professor of Canon Law, Patristics, and Morals at the Major Seminary ‘San Carlos y San Marcelo’
1999: Provincial Prior of the Province “Mother of Good Counsel” (Chicago)
2001-2013: Prior General of the Augustinians for two terms (approx. 2,700 religious in 50 countries)
2013: Teacher of professed religious and Provincial Vicar in his Province (Chicago)
2014: Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Chiclayo and Titular Bishop of Sufar, Peru (episcopal appointment on 3 November 2014)
2014: Episcopal consecration on the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe (12 December 2014)
2015: appointed bishop of Chiclayo (26 September 2015)
2018: 2nd vice-president of the Episcopal Conference of Peru (8 March 2018 – 30 January 2023)
2020: Apostolic Administrator of Callao, Peru (15 April 2020 – 17 April 2021)
2023: Archbishop ad personam (30 January 2023 – 30 September 2023)
2023: Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops (30 January 2023 [12 April 2023] – 9 May 2025)
2023: President of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America (30 January 2023 [12 April 2023] – 9 May 2025)
2023: Created Cardinal Deacon, titular of St. Monica of the Augustinians (30.09.2023 [28.01.2024] – 06.02.2025)
2025: Promoted to Cardinal Bishop of the Suburbicarian Diocese of Albano (06.02.2025 – 08.05.2025)
2025: Elected Supreme Pontiff (08.05.2025)
Service in the Roman Curia
He was a member of the Dicasteries for Evangelization, Section for First Evangelization and New Churches; for the Doctrine of the Faith; for the Eastern Churches; for the Clergy; for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life; for Culture and Education; for Legislative Texts, and of the Pontifical Commission for the Vatican City State
May the Holy Spirit enlighten his ministry, as he did with the great Saint Augustine.
Let us pray for a fruitful pontificate rich with hope!
