Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost was elected Pope on May 8, 2025 (local time), taking the name Leo XIV.
Pope Leo XIV is the Church’s first Augustinian Pope, and the first born in North America.
The future Pope was born and raised in Chicago in the United States in 1955. At 27, he was sent to Rome to study Canon Law at the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum). Later, he served a mission in Peru, and became the Bishop of Chiclayo.
In 2023, then-Pope Francis called him to Rome to serve as Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops and President of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America. Later appointed by Francis as Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops, he became a Cardinal in 2024.
When Pope Francis was hospitalised in early 2025, the future Pope Leo XIV presided over the Rosary for Pope Francis’s health in Saint Peter’s Square.
A Pope of peace
Pope Leo XIV calls us to pray for peace in a world in the midst of storms. The new Pope’s first words when addressing the world from the Central Loggia of St Peter’s Basilica not long after his election were “Peace be with you!”
He also said:
“God loves us, all of us, evil will not prevail. We are all in the hands of God. Without fear, united, hand in hand with God and among ourselves, we will go forward. We are disciples of Christ, Christ goes before us, and the world needs His light. Humanity needs Him like a bridge to reach God and His love. You help us to build bridges with dialogue and encounter so we can all be one people always in peace.”
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- ‘Algorithmization’ of life and preserving human dignityon May 17, 2026 at 10:25 am
Bruno Giussani, author of a book on artificial intelligence’s impact on our lives, reflects on Pope Leo XIV’s Message for the 60th World Day of Social Communications, “Preserving Human Voices and Faces.” Read all
- Pope Leo: Care for peace is care for lifeon May 17, 2026 at 10:21 am
Pope Leo XIV prays that peace may prevail in all hearts, as the Church celebrates Laudato Si’ Week. Read all
- Pope Leo: Lord’s Ascension draws us to Father, builds communion and peaceon May 17, 2026 at 10:20 am
At the Regina Caeli on Sunday, Pope Leo XIV reflects on the Lord’s Ascension, noting that Christ’s entire life is a movement of ascent and that His humanity embraces and involves the whole world, elevating and redeeming us. Read all
- Pope: Communication must respect truth of human personon May 17, 2026 at 10:17 am
As the Church celebrates the 60th World Day of Social Communications, Pope Leo XIV encourages Catholics to help direct technological innovation toward the truth of the human person. Read all
- Cardinal Aveline: ‘Pope Leo will offer us roadmap to continue our mission’on May 16, 2026 at 1:59 pm
Cardinal Jean-Marc Aveline, Archbishop of Marseille and President of the French Bishops’ Conference, welcomes the announcement of Pope Leo XIV’s Apostolic Journey to France on 25-28 September. Read all