In brief
In a remarkable journey from Chicago to the Vatican, Robert Francis Prevost has become the 267th pope, now known as Pope Leo XIV. Here’s a quick look at his inspiring timeline!
American Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, born in Chicago in 1955, has ascended to become the new Pope, triumphing against the odds in an unexpected papal election. His educational journey began with a Bachelor of Science degree from Villanova University, followed by entry into the Order of Saint Augustine in Saint Louis. He was ordained a priest in 1982 after receiving a Master in Divinity. Prevost's missionary work in Peru began in 1985, and his academic achievements continued with a doctoral degree from the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome.Prevost rose through the ranks of the church, being elected provincial prior in 1999 and later named bishop of Chiclayo, Peru, in 2015. His significant elevation to archbishop came in 2023 when Pope Francis appointed him to manage global bishop selection. On May 8, 2025, he made history as the newly elected pope, adopting the name Leo XIV and marking what many hope to be a meaningful era for the Roman Catholic Church.
