In a historic moment for the Catholic Church, Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost of Chicago has been elected the 267th pope, becoming the first American ever to ascend to the papacy. He appeared on the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica on Thursday as Pope Leo XIV, taking the helm of the 1.4 billion-member global Church.
The 69-year-old Augustinian prelate, known for his calm leadership and global pastoral experience, was chosen after just two days of deliberation—matching the swift timelines of his predecessors, Popes Francis and Benedict XVI. His election signals a continuation of Pope Francis’s reformist vision with a steady and pragmatic hand.
Global Roots, Reformist Reputation
Though born in the U.S., Prevost spent much of his ecclesial life abroad, especially in Peru, where he served as a missionary and later as Bishop of Chiclayo. This extensive time outside the U.S. likely eased concerns among cardinals wary of selecting a pontiff from a global superpower, a precedent they had long avoided.
Prevost also served as head of the powerful Dicastery for Bishops, overseeing episcopal appointments worldwide, and was president of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America. His reputation inside the Vatican is that of a collaborative yet decisive leader.
“He’s not authoritarian, but he gets things done,” said Vatican analyst Elise Allen. “He brings balance, clarity, and a pastoral sensitivity that resonates across ideological lines.”
Educator, Canon Lawyer, Missionary
Prevost holds a mathematics degree from Villanova University and studied theology in Chicago before earning a doctorate in canon law in Rome. Ordained in 1982, he returned to Peru to serve, teach, and lead in the Augustinian order. He later became Prior General of the order, overseeing its global mission for more than a decade.
In a 2023 interview, he reflected on his identity as a missionary: “Wherever I am, I see my vocation as one of proclaiming the Gospel.”
He has also spoken openly about the Church’s need to confront clerical abuse, advocating for deeper implementation of reforms. “There are places where much has been done,” he said. “But we still have a long way to go.”
A New Era
Pope Leo XIV now inherits the challenges facing the modern Church: healing internal divisions, confronting abuse scandals, addressing a decline in Western religious participation, and navigating global instability. But his broad experience and steady leadership style offer hope for unity and renewal.
A ceremonial inaugural Mass will be held in the coming days, marking the formal beginning of his papacy.
