By Christine Persichette
The first American pope: Pope Leo XIV – born in Chicago, Illinois, raised by a father with French and Italian roots and a mother of Spanish descent.
The new Holy Father studied math at Villanova University before he was ordained a priest in 1982.
Three years later, Father Robert Prevost began missionary work in Peru.
He returned to the United States, then went back to the South American country a couple years later. Prevost stayed there for more than a decade, even becoming a Peruvian citizen. He served as bishop of Chiclayo.
In January of 2023, Pope Francis appointed Prevost prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops – a powerful position responsible for selecting bishops.
Eight months later, in September of 2023, Pope Francis elevated him to the rank of cardinal.
The 69-year-old is the first Augustinian pope, having led the religious order for more than a decade as their prior general.
Pope Leo XIV is considered an experienced leader and is expected to build upon Pope Francis’ reforms.
He reportedly shares Pope Francis’ vision on the environment, outreach to the poor and migrants, and meeting people where they are.
The new pontiff also supported his predecessor’s decision to allow divorced and civilly remarried Catholics to receive Holy Communion.
The new pope speaks English, Spanish, Italian, French, Portuguese– and can read Latin and German!
He’s an American, a missionary, and now the 267th pope of the Catholic Church.