
Habemus Papam! We have a Pope
The Cardinals gathered in the Vatican’s Sistine Chapel have elected Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost as the 267th Pope, who took the name Pope Leo XIV.

Papal Identity
Papal Name: Pope Leo XIV
Date of Election: 8 May 2025
Predecessor: Pope Francis
Distinction:
First Pope born in the United States
First North American Pope
Personal Background
Birth Name: Robert Francis Prevost
Date of Birth: September 14, 1955
Place of Birth: Chicago, Illinois, USA
Citizenship: Peruvian-American (Naturalized Peruvian citizen in 2015)
Education
B.Sc. in Mathematics – Villanova University (1977)
Master of Divinity – Catholic Theological Union, Chicago (1982)
Licentiate & Doctorate in Canon Law – Pontifical College of St. Thomas Aquinas, Rome (1984, 1987)
Religious Order
Order of St. Augustine (OSA)
First Vows: 1978
Solemn Vows: 1981
Ordination: June 19, 1982 (by Archbishop Jean Jadot)
Leadership Roles
Missionary & Educator in Peru (1985–1998): Parish pastor, seminary rector, canon law teacher
Provincial of Augustinian Province of Chicago (1999)
Prior General of the Order of St. Augustine (2001–2013) – Two terms
Bishop of Chiclayo, Peru (2015–2023)
Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops (2023–2025)
Cardinal-Deacon & Cardinal-Bishop (2023, 2025 respectively)
Controversies
Criticized for his handling of clergy abuse cases, particularly:
Permitting a credibly accused priest (Fr. James Ray) to live near a school without informing authorities
SNAP alleged mismanagement of abuse cases involving Richard McGrath in Peru
Papal Significance
Seen as papabile due to his position overseeing bishop appointments
Known for combining pastoral experience, canonical expertise, and multicultural fluency, particularly between North and South America...//-