Leo XIV

Pope Leo XIV (born Robert Francis Prevost, pronounced PREE-vohst; September 14, 1955) is the head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of Vatican City.
Born in Chicago, United States, Prevost became a friar in the Order of Saint Augustine in 1977 and was ordained as a priest in 1982. He earned a Doctor of Canon Law degree in 1987 from the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome. He performed extensive missionary work in Peru in the 1980s and 1990s, working as a parish pastor, diocesan official, seminary teacher, and administrator. Elected prior general of the Order of Saint Augustine, he traveled extensively while he was based in Rome from 2001 to 2013. He then returned to Peru as Bishop of Chiclayo from 2015 to 2023, and became a Peruvian citizen. In 2023, Pope Francis appointed him prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops in Rome, and president of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America. Upon his return to Rome, Prevost was made a cardinal.
As a cardinal, Prevost emphasized synodality, missionary dialogue, and engagement with social and technological challenges; he has also addressed climate change, international migration, church governance, and human rights. Prevost's election in the 2025 conclave was unexpected by observers, as he was considered a dark horse candidate. He is the first pope from the United States or North America, the first pope to be a citizen of Peru, and the second pope, following the 12th-century Pope Adrian IV, to come from an English-speaking country. He is also the first pope from the Order of Saint Augustine. Following the precedent of Pope Leo XIII, who developed modern Catholic social teaching amid the tumult of the Second Industrial Revolution, Prevost chose the papal name Leo XIV—both to echo Leo XIII's concern for workers and fairness, and as a response to the challenges of a new industrial revolution and artificial intelligence.
As pope, Leo has consistently opposed armed conflict and nationalism while advocating for the rights of immigrants. He has introduced new warnings about the use of artificial intelligence technology. Leo has affirmed the teachings of his predecessors, including social teachings and the climate policy of Pope Francis. He has consistently pointed to the teachings of the Second Vatican Council as the "guiding star" of the church. In 2026, he confronted the second Écône consecrations, which resulted in renewed excommunications and schism with the Society of St. Pius X.

Born, in its opening lines

September 14, 1955

From the Wikipedia article “Pope Leo XIV” (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_Leo_XIV), by its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0 (creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Copied November 13, 2026; not changed.

Described as

267th Pope of the Catholic Church (2025–)

Other names

Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, Cardinal Robert Prevost, Cardinal Prevost, Pope Leo XIV, Robert F. Prevost, Robert Prevost, Robert Francis Prevost Martínez, Robert Francis Prevost, Bob Prevost, Roberto Prevost

Born

September 14, 1955 · 3 references

Born in

Mercy Hospital and Medical Center · 4 references

Name at birth

Robert Francis Prevost

Citizen of

United States · 3 references; Peru (2015–) · 3 references; Vatican City (2023–) · 1 reference

Occupation

Catholic priest (1982–) · 1 reference; Catholic bishop (2014–) · 1 reference; friar; archbishop · 2 references; regular priest · 1 reference; prefect · 1 reference; Catholic missionary; mathematician

Positions held

Prior General of Order of Saint Augustine (2001–2013) · 1 reference; titular bishop (2014–2015) · 1 reference; apostolic administrator (2 times) (2014–2021) · 1 reference; Roman Catholic Bishop of Chiclayo (2015–2023) · 2 references; Grand Chancellor (2015–2023) · 1 reference; Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops (2023–2025) · 1 reference; President of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America (2023–2025) · 1 reference; cardinal-deacon (2023–2025) · 1 reference; Cardinal-Bishop of Albano (2025) · 1 reference; Pope (2025–) · 1 reference; vice president (2018–2023) · 1 reference

Education

St. Augustine Seminary High School (–1973) · 1 reference; Villanova University (–1977); Catholic Theological Union (–1982); Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas (2 times) (1984–1987)

Awards

Bailiff Knight Grand Cross of Honour and Devotion of the Order of Saint John (2025) · 1 reference; Supreme Order of Christ · 1 reference; Order of the Bath (2025) · 1 reference; Order of the Golden Spur · 1 reference; Order of Pius IX · 1 reference; Order of St. Gregory the Great · 1 reference; Order of St. Sylvester · 1 reference; Sovereign Military Order of Malta · 1 reference; Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre · 1 reference; Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice · 1 reference; Time 100 (2026) · 1 reference

Field

Christian mission (1985–); Petrine ministry (2025–); Christianity · 1 reference

Father

Louis Marius Prevost · 1 reference

Mother

Mildred Agnes Martinez · 2 references

Siblings

Louis Martín Prevost · 1 reference; John Joseph Prevost · 1 reference

Religion

Catholicism · 1 reference

Lived in

212 East 141st Place (1955–) · 1 reference; Peru (2014–2023) · 2 references; Vatican City (2025–)

Website

https://www.vatican.va/content/leo-xiv/en.html; https://www.vatican.va/content/leo-xiv/fr.html

Wikipedias with a page

177

Wikidata item Q6109517 (wikidata.org/wiki/Q6109517), public domain (CC0). Copied November 14, 2026.