Following the passing of Pope Francis on April 21, the cardinals convened, and on the fourth ballot, white smoke signaled a decision. About an hour later, Pope Leo XIV greeted the faithful from the iconic balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica. "Peace be with you all," he began in Italian, later telling the crowd, "We can be a missionary church, a church that builds bridges, that is always open to receive everyone...to welcome everyone, in charity, dialogue and love," as reported by The Washington Post.
As the world gets acquainted with this historic figure, here’s what you need to know about Pope Leo XIV:
1. He's a Chicago Native with Deep Family Roots
Born Robert Prevost on September 14, 1955, in Chicago, Illinois, the future Pope was raised in the nearby suburb of Dolton. His parents were Louis Marius Prevost, an educator, and Mildred Martínez, a librarian. He has two brothers, Louis Martin Prevost and John Joseph Prevost. The Chicago Sun-Times notes the Prevost family was active in St. Mary of the Assumption Parish, participating as musicians, altar boys, and lectors. "To think about we knew him when he was a kid," childhood friend Noelle Neis told the paper. "He’s just like one of us."2. He Studied Mathematics Before Divinity
Interestingly, Pope Leo XIV's initial academic pursuit was not theology. He graduated from Villanova University, the only Augustinian Catholic university in the U.S., with a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics in 1977. He then earned a Master of Divinity from Chicago’s Catholic Theological Union in 1982, the same year he was ordained a priest. His thirst for knowledge didn't stop there; he later obtained licentiate and doctorate degrees in canon law from the Pontifical College of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome.3. He Holds Dual U.S. and Peruvian Citizenship
A significant portion of Pope Leo XIV's ministry was spent in Peru. He joined the Augustinian mission there in 1985, where he oversaw the Augustinian seminary in Trujillo and taught canon law. After returning to Chicago in 1999, he was called back to Peru in 2014 when Pope Francis appointed him apostolic administrator of the Diocese of Chiclayo. A year later, in 2015, he acquired Peruvian citizenship.4. He's a Polyglot
Reflecting his global outreach and experience, Pope Leo XIV is fluent in five languages: English, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, and French, according to The Washington Post. This linguistic skill will undoubtedly serve him well in his new global role.5. He Was a Close Confidant of Pope Francis
While Pope Leo XIV is the first American Pope, he's the second from the Americas, following his immediate predecessor, Pope Francis, who hailed from Argentina. Their connection was strong. In January 2023, Pope Francis appointed Prevost to lead the Dicastery for Bishops, a crucial Vatican office responsible for selecting bishops worldwide. PBS reported that Prevost presided over one of Francis's notable reforms: adding three women to the voting body that decides bishop nominations. Later that year, on September 30, Francis made him a Cardinal. He was also named president of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America in 2023.6. He Faced and Was Cleared of Past Allegations
Cardinal Prevost was previously linked to two sexual abuse cases involving priests, one in Chicago and another in Peru. In both instances, he was cleared of any wrongdoing. The Washington Post reported on a case where a priest found to have abused minors was allowed to stay at a monastery near a school while Prevost led the Augustinian Province of Chicago; the Vatican denied Prevost authorized this. More recently, a complaint from SNAP regarding his handling of accusations against two priests in Chiclayo, Peru, also saw the Vatican clear Prevost of misconduct. These investigations ultimately did not hinder his election to the papacy.7. He's Considered a Centrist with Progressive Social Stances
According to CBS News, Pope Leo XIV is generally seen as a centrist in his overall ideology. However, he leans more progressive on social issues, championing the poor, migrants, and advocating for efforts to combat climate change. He has not shied away from political commentary, notably criticizing U.S. immigration policies under President Donald Trump. He once retweeted a post stating, "There is nothing remotely Christian, American, or morally defensible about a policy that takes children away from their parents and warehouses them in cages." He also shared an op-ed critiquing comments by Vice President JD Vance regarding the Christian concept of "ordo amordis" (order of love).It remains to be seen how Pope Leo XIV will shape the Catholic Church, but his historic election and unique background promise a fascinating papacy. The world will be watching closely.
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