On May 8, 2025, Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost — known informally as “Bob” — was elected Pope Leo XIV, becoming the first American-born pope in Catholic Church history. Born in Chicago on September 14, 1955, he spent nearly four decades serving in Chicago, Rome, and northern Peru before reaching the papacy on the fourth ballot of a two-day conclave. He chose the name Leo XIV to honor Leo XIII’s legacy of social justice. There is much more to his remarkable journey ahead.
Who Is Robert Prevost, the First American Pope?
On 8 May 2025, the Catholic Church elected its first American pope, ending more than 2,000 years without a U.S.-born leader of the faith.
Robert Francis Prevost, born on 14 September 1955 in Chicago, Illinois, became the 267th successor of Saint Peter, taking the name Leo XIV.
He is also the first Augustinian pope in Church history.
His mother, Mildred Agnes Martínez, gave him Hispanic roots alongside his American upbringing.
Before his election, Prevost had spent decades in ministry, including years as a missionary and archbishop in Peru, quietly building an international profile few outside the Church had noticed. In January 2023, Pope Francis appointed him Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops, bringing him to Rome in a powerful curial role just two years before his historic election. He was elevated to the cardinalate on 30 September 2023, when Pope Francis created him a cardinal and assigned him the diaconate of Santa Monica.
The new pope has often reflected on themes of covenant and land in biblical history, drawing parallels with Israel’s origins in his homilies.
From Chicago to Peru: How Prevost Became a Global Church Figure
Before becoming the first American pope, Robert Francis Prevost spent nearly four decades moving between Chicago, Rome, and the towns of northern Peru, building the kind of international experience that would eventually define his place in the Catholic Church.
Before his historic papacy, Prevost spent four decades between Chicago, Rome, and Peru shaping his global vision.
Ordained as an Augustinian, he first arrived in Chulucanas, Piura, in 1985.
He later served as bishop of Chiclayo for nearly nine years, earning Peruvian citizenship in 2015.
Those years transformed him from a U.S.-born missionary into a recognized Latin American church figure.
In 2023, Pope Francis brought him to Rome as prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops.
He was ordained to the priesthood on June 19, 1982, at the Augustinian College of Saint Monica in Rome by Archbishop Jean Jadot.
He had made his solemn vows on 29 August 1981, formally committing himself to the Order of Saint Augustine before going on to pursue priestly ordination and doctoral studies in Canon Law.
His ministry reflected servant leadership in pastoral care and decision-making, emphasizing humility and shepherding care in line with biblical principles for Christian leaders.
The Church Roles That Put Prevost on the Path to the Papacy
When Robert Francis Prevost was elected provincial of the Augustinian Province of Chicago in 1999, few outside church circles would have predicted that the role marked the beginning of a steady climb toward the papacy. His subsequent responsibilities exposed him to leadership lessons that emphasized servant leadership and accountability.
Two years later, he became prior general of the Order of St. Augustine, overseeing Augustinians worldwide for twelve years across two terms.
In 2015, he became bishop of Chiclayo, Peru, gaining direct diocesan experience.
Then in January 2023, Pope Francis appointed him prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops, placing him at the center of how the Catholic Church selects its global leadership. In that role, he worked closely with the expectations Pope Francis held for bishops, including the promotion of unity with the pope and communion within the Church.
The appointment came as a surprise to Prevost, who had already been part of the Dicastery since 2020 and reported being happy in Peru, yet accepted the new role without hesitation due to his vow of obedience.
How Robert Prevost Became the First American Elected Pope
White smoke rose above the Sistine Chapel on May 8, 2025, signaling that 133 cardinals had chosen a new leader for the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics.
On the fourth ballot of a two-day conclave, they elected Robert Francis Prevost, a Chicago-born Augustinian priest who had spent decades ministering in Peru. He was 69.
On the second day of voting, cardinals chose Prevost, a 69-year-old Augustinian who had long served in Peru.
Prevost accepted the name Leo XIV, becoming the 267th pope and the first American in the Church’s 2,000-year history to hold the office.
Before his election, Prevost had served as a close confidant of Pope Francis, leading the influential Vatican office responsible for selecting bishops globally. Moments later, he appeared at the central loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica, presented to a crowd that had not anticipated this outcome. His first words to the world were “Peace be with you all,” extending greetings to “families, all people,” wherever they may be.
The announcement prompted immediate discussion about the relationship between faith and civic duty, with commentators noting the Bible’s affirmation of the legitimacy of governing authorities alongside ultimate allegiance to God.
Why Pope Leo XIV Chose That Papal Name
Once Prevost stepped onto the loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica as Pope Leo XIV, questions immediately followed about his chosen name.
He later explained that Leo XIII, whose 1891 encyclical *Rerum Novarum* addressed workers’ rights during the industrial revolution, served as his primary inspiration.
Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni confirmed the reference.
Leo XIV drew a direct parallel between that era and today’s rapid technological change, citing artificial intelligence as a modern challenge to human dignity and labor.
The name signaled that social justice would remain central to his pontificate, framing the choice as purposeful rather than ceremonial. Christian social teaching has long used papal documents to apply Scripture and moral principles to changing economic conditions. Pope Francis had previously warned about AI’s potential to create false narratives and deepen inequality through unequal access to information.
Subsequent popes, including Pius XI, Paul VI, and John Paul II, each revisited *Rerum Novarum* at major anniversaries, reflecting the document’s enduring role as the charter of Catholic Social Teaching.
