St. Joseph Catholic Church

On May 8, 2025, Pope Leo XIV became the 267th Pope of the Catholic Church. Born Robert Francis Prevost in Chicago, Illinois, on September 14, 1955, and is of Italian, French, and Spanish ancestry. He is a citizen of both the United States and Peru (where he served as a Bishop)

• He is the first North American to be elected Pope.
• He is the first American citizen to be elected Pope.
• He is also the first Pope from an English-speaking nation since Adrian IV (from England) in 1154. 
• He is the first Peruvian citizen to be elected Pope.
• He is a member of the Order of St. Augustine (Augustinian) -- and its first to be elected Pope.
• He speaks English, Spanish, Italian, French, and Portuguese, and can read Latin and German

Education. Raised in Chicago and a fan of baseball's Chicago Cubs (who can always use some prayers), he attended Villanova University, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics. He earned a Master's in Divinity in 1982 (from Chicago's Catholic Theological Union)  and a Doctor of Canon Law degree in 1987 (from the Pontifical College of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome).

Ministry. Entering the Augustinian order in 1977 (taking his simple vows), he took his solemn vows in 1981 and was ordained to the Priesthood in 1982. In his priestly life, here are some key events:

• He served in Peru in 1985-86 and again from 1988-98.
• He was elected Prior General of the Augustinian, serving from 2oo1-2013
• He served as Provincial Vicar of the midwestern province of the Augustinians..
• He was made Bishop of the Diocese of Chiclayo (in Peru) in 2015.
• He was created a Cardinal in 2023 by Pope Francis.
• He was appointed as Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops in 2023.
• Cardinal Prevost was elected Pope in 2025 and took the name Leo XIV.