Meet Pope Leo XIV: First American elected as New Pope

In a historic development for the Catholic Church, Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost has been chosen as the new pope following a 24-hour conclave at the Vatican.

The emergence of white smoke from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel late on Thursday signalled the election of the first American-born pontiff in the Church’s more than 2,000-year history.

Prevost, formerly a missionary in Peru and the head of the Vatican’s Dicastery for Bishops, will now be known as Pope Leo XIV. He succeeds Pope Francis, who passed away last month at the age of 88, having led the global Catholic community for over a decade.

Born in Chicago in 1955, Robert Prevost was raised in a devout family. His mother, Mildred Martínez, was of Spanish heritage, while his father, Louis Marius Prevost, was a French-Italian catechist. Prevost demonstrated a keen interest in the priesthood from a young age, ultimately choosing the Augustinian path due to its emphasis on unity and community life.

Ordained in 1982, Prevost’s initial ministry led him to Peru, where he served in the Territorial Prelature of Chulucanas. His time in Peru had a profound impact, resulting in him becoming a naturalised Peruvian citizen. During more than a decade of service, he assumed several key positions, including community prior, judicial vicar, and academic lecturer.

In 1999, Prevost was elected provincial prior of the Midwest Augustinians in the United States, followed by his election as Prior General of the worldwide Augustinian order in 2001. He held this global office for two consecutive terms, concluding his tenure in 2013.

Subsequently, Pope Francis appointed him to the Diocese of Chiclayo in Peru, where he served initially as apostolic administrator and later as bishop. Despite facing criticism in 2022 over his handling of abuse allegations, which the diocese refuted, Prevost’s stature within the Church continued to grow.

In 2020, he was appointed to the Dicastery for Bishops, overseeing the appointment of Latin Rite bishops worldwide. By 2022, he was leading the dicastery, considered one of the Vatican’s most influential bodies.

The election of Pope Leo XIV represents a notable milestone, not only for American Catholics but for the global Church. It reflects a potential continuation of Pope Francis’ vision for a more compassionate, inclusive, and globally engaged Catholicism. Renowned for his fluency in Spanish, pastoral attentiveness, and resolute leadership, Pope Leo XIV assumes a position requiring both spiritual direction and steadfast governance in an increasingly complex world.