Pope

His academic journey began at Villanova University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematics in 1977 before entering the Augustinian novitiate. He was ordained a priest in 1982 and pursued advanced studies in canon law, earning both a licentiate and doctorate from the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum) in Rome by 1987.

Father Prevost devoted much of his early ministry to the Order of Saint Augustine, eventually serving as Provincial Prior in Chicago and later as Prior General, guiding Augustinian communities worldwide. His leadership was marked by a spirit of fraternity, humility, and dialogue—qualities that would later shape his papacy. In 2023, Pope Francis entrusted him with major Vatican responsibilities, appointing him Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops and President of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America. He was elevated to the College of Cardinals in September 2023, cementing his role as a key voice in the global Church.

On May 8, 2025, Cardinal Prevost was elected Supreme Pontiff and chose the name Leo XIV, drawing inspiration from Pope Leo XIII, remembered for his groundbreaking social encyclical Rerum Novarum. By doing so, he signaled a papacy committed to justice, unity, and the dignity of the human person. His inauguration Mass was celebrated on May 18, 2025, in St. Peter’s Square before a vast congregation of 200,000 faithful and global dignitaries. In his homily, Pope Leo XIV emphasized fraternity, care for creation, and solidarity with the poor, proclaiming his motto: In illo uno unum—“In the One Christ, we are one.”

As the first pope from the Augustinian order, Leo XIV brings with him the values of community life, humility, and the search for truth. Widely known among his brothers as “Father Bob,” he carries a reputation for being approachable and compassionate. His first public outings reflected this style—visiting an Augustinian sanctuary near Rome and presenting himself as a “humble servant of God,” echoing the simplicity of his predecessor, Pope Francis.

Pope Leo XIV is also the first pontiff to maintain an active social media presence. His posts on X (@drprevost) highlight concerns for social justice, immigration, press freedom, environmental stewardship, and the ethical use of artificial intelligence. This openness reflects his desire to bridge the Church with contemporary challenges and to engage a digital generation in dialogue about faith and responsibility.

In his first 100 days, Pope Leo XIV has been described as calm, deliberate, and focused on listening. He has already introduced reforms, such as moving the Pontifical Committee for the World Day of Children under the Dicastery for Laity, Family, and Life, to strengthen its pastoral mission. At seventy years of age, he brings to the papacy a blend of wisdom, humility, and missionary zeal. His Augustinian identity, combined with his American roots and global experience, positions him as a unifying figure for a Church that is increasingly diverse and interconnected.

Pope Leo XIV thus stands as a historic pontiff: the first American, the first Augustinian, and a spiritual leader deeply committed to carrying forward the Church’s mission of unity, justice, and service in a rapidly changing world.