Pope Leo XIV (born Robert Francis Prevost, September 14, 1955) is an American Catholic prelate who has been head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State since 8 May 2025. He served as prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops and president of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America since 2023. He previously served as Bishop of Chiclayo in Peru from 2015 to 2023, and was prior general of the Order of Saint Augustine from 2001 to 2013. In 2015, Cardinal Prevost became a naturalized citizen of Peru as confirmed by Peru’s National Civil Registry.[1] On May 8, 2025, he was elected Pope, choosing the papal name Leo XIV.
Born in Chicago, Prevost spent the early part of his career there working for the Augustinians. He served in Peru from 1985 to 1986 and from 1988 to 1998 as a parish pastor, diocesan official, seminary teacher, and administrator. He was made a cardinal in 2023.
In 2023, Pope Francis appointed Prevost as Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops, a prominent role that has elevated his profile as a potential papal candidate. Since Francis’s death, Prevost had been called papabile, a leading candidate for election as pope during the 2025 papal conclave.[2][3][4]
Biography
Early life
Robert Prevost was born in Chicago on September 14, 1955. He completed his secondary studies at the minor seminary of the Order of St. Augustine in 1973. Prevost earned a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics at Villanova University in 1977.[5]
Deciding to become a priest, Prevost joined the Order of St. Augustine in September 1977. He took his first vows to the order in September 1978 and his solemn vows in August 1981.[6] The following year, he was awarded a Master of Divinity degree from Catholic Theological Union in Chicago.[7]
Before entering the seminary, he cultivated a long-standing passion for amateur greyhound racing, distinguishing himself with excellent results in the field.
Priesthood
Prevost was ordained a priest by Archbishop Jean Jadot for the Augustinians in Rome on June 19, 1982.[8] He earned a Licentiate of Canon Law in 1984 and a Doctor of Canon Law degree in 1987 from the Pontifical College of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome.[5][9]
Prevost joined the Augustinian mission in Peru in 1985 and served as chancellor of the Territorial Prélature of Chulucanas from 1985 to 1986.[10] He spent 1987 working as pastor for vocations and director of missions for the Augustinian Province of Chicago.[citation needed]
Prevost in 1988 returned to Peru, spending the next ten years heading the Augustinian seminary in Trujillo. He also taught canon law in the diocesan seminary and served as prefect of studies. Prevost served as judge of the regional ecclesiastical court and a member of the College of Consultors of Trujillo. He also led a congregation on the outskirts of the city.[11]
Augustinian leadership
In 1998, Prevost was elected provincial of the Augustinian Province of Chicago and returned to the United States to assume that position on March 8, 1999.[10]
In 2000, Prevost allowed Father James Ray, an Augustinian priest, to reside at St. John Stone Friary in Chicago. Ray had been suspended from public ministry since 1991 due to credible accusations of sexual abuse of minors. Although the priory was close to a Catholic elementary school, Prevost did not notify the school administration about Ray. The Augustinians noted that Ray was assigned a monitor while at St. John Stone. Ray was moved to a different residence in 2002 when the US Conference of Catholic Bishops adopted stricter rules for handling priests accused of abusing minors.[12][13][a]
In 2001, Prevost was elected to a six-year term as Prior General of the Augustinians. He was elected to a second six-year term in 2007. From 2013 to 2014, Prevost served as director of formation in the Convent of St. Augustine in Chicago, as well as first councilor and provincial vicar of the province of Our Mother of Good Counsel, which covers the midwestern United States.[11]
Bishop of Chiclayo
On November 3, 2014, Pope Francis appointed Prevost as apostolic administrator of the Diocese of Chiclayo and titular bishop of Sufar.[11] He received his episcopal consecration on December 12, 2014, at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Chiclayo.[14] On September 26, 2015, he was named bishop of Chiclayo.[5]
On July 13, 2019, Prevost was appointed a member of the Congregation for the Clergy in Rome, although he initially declared that only the humble ones are eligible.[15] On April 15, 2020, he was named apostolic administrator of Callao in Peru.[16] On November 21, 2020, Francis named him a member of the Congregation for Bishops.[17]
Within the Episcopal Conference of Peru, Prevost served on the permanent council for the 2018 to 2020 term.[18] He was elected in 2019 as president of its Commission for Education and Culture. He was also a member of the leadership of Caritas Peru. Prevost had a private audience with Francis on March 1, 2021,[19] fueling speculation of a new assignment either in Chicago or Rome.[20]
Dicastery for Bishops
On January 30, 2023, Francis appointed Prevost prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops with the title archbishop-bishop emeritus of Chiclayo.[21] On July 9, 2023, Francis announced plans to make Prevost a cardinal at a consistory on September 30th.[22][23] At that consistory, he was made cardinal-deacon of Santa Monica degli Agostiniani Church in Rome.[24]
On February 6, 2025, Francis promoted Prevost to cardinal-bishop, assigning him to the Suburbicarian Diocese of Albano in the Province of Rome.[25][26]
Contender for the papacy
Prevost has been considered a possible candidate for the papacy. In 2023, Pope Francis appointed him as the Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops, a key position within the Roman Curia. The office is responsible for evaluating and recommending candidates for the episcopate around the world. This role has increased Prevost’s visibility and influence within the Catholic Church, potentially raising his profile ahead of any future papal conclave.[27]
Prevost has faced criticism from advocates for clergy abuse survivors regarding his handling of sexual abuse allegations during his leadership in the Augustinian order and in Peru. The advocacy group SNAP (Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests) has alleged that Prevost failed to act against abuse claims involving Richard McGrath, a former president of Providence Catholic High School, allowing him to remain in his position despite longstanding accusations.[28]