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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The graduates of St. Augustine University of Tanzania (SAUT) have been urged to use social media responsibly. The Bishop of Bunda Diocese, as the Guest of Honour at the 28th Graduation Ceremony, advised students to carefully consider the pros and cons of new technologies in academic and social contexts. Bishop Simon Masondole made the remarks at the recent graduation ceremony held in Mwanza, Tanzania. Read all
- Pope Leo XIV’s balanced view of Artificial Intelligenceon March 12, 2026 at 1:58 pm
The Spanish writer Javier Cercas reflects on Pope Leo XIV’s Message for the 2026 World Day of Social Communications. Read all
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A Lenten reflection from Jenny Kraska, Executive Director of the Maryland Catholic Conference. Read all
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Fr Francesco Patton, OFM, reflects on the city of Nazareth. Read all
- Pope appoints new Papal Almoner, names Cardinal Krajewski Archbishop of Łódźon March 12, 2026 at 12:08 pm
Pope Leo XIV appoints Archbishop Luis Marín de San Martín as the Prefect of the Dicastery for the Service of Charity, known as the Papal Almoner, and names Cardinal Konrad Krajewski as the Metropolitan Archbishop of Łódź, in Poland. Read all