by Christians Gokyo, Jos
A 69 years’ old Cardinal has been elected as the new Pope to succeed his predecessor, late Pope Francis, following the White Smoke that rose from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel, signaling that the College of Cardinals has chosen a new pope.
The new Pope, Robert Francis Prevost, is one out of the 133 cardinals sequestered in the Vatican since May 7, who has now been elected as the 267th leader of the Roman Catholic Church, on May 8th, 2025.
Pope Robert Francis Prevost, who will be known as Pope Leo XIV, is the first American Pontiff, born in the United States, to be the first North American Pope.
The new elected Pope was born on September 14, 1955, in Chicago, Illinois, USA, a Peruvian-American (Naturalized Peruvian citizen, in 2015).
Pope Leo XIV has a B.Sc. in Mathematics – Villanova University (1977), Master of Divinity – Catholic Theological Union, Chicago (1982), Licentiate & Doctorate in Canon Law – Pontifical College of St. Thomas Aquinas, Rome (1984, 1987).
The new Pope is from the Order of St. Augustine (O.S.A.). He took his first Vows in 1978 and Solemn Vows in 1981, while his ordination was in June 19, 1982, by Archbishop Jean Jadot.
His Leadership Roles were Missionary & Educator in Peru (1985–1998): Parish Pastor, seminary rector, canon law teacher and Provincial of Augustinian Province of Chicago 1999.
Also, Pope Leo XIV was Prior-General of the Order of St. Augustine 2001–2013 for two terms, Bishop of Chiclayo, Peru 2015–2023, Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops 2023–2025 and Cardinal-Deacon & Cardinal-Bishop in 2023, 2025, respectively.
Seen as palpable due to his position overseeing bishop appointments, he was known for combining pastoral experience, canonical expertise, and multicultural fluency, particularly between North and South America.
𝐏𝐨𝐩𝐞 𝐋𝐞𝐨 𝐗𝐈𝐕.
𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐑𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐭 𝐅𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐬 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐨𝐬𝐭, 𝐎.𝐒.𝐀. – P𝐫𝐞𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐃𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 B𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐩𝐬, 𝟔𝟗 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐨𝐥𝐝 – was ordained to the Priesthood, on 19th June, 1982.
Ordination to the Episcopate: 12 December 2014.
Elevation to the College of Cardinals: 30 September 2023.
Education:
1977: Bachelor of Science in Mathematics, from Villanova University.
1982: Master of Divinity, from Catholic Theological Union in Chicago.
1984: Licentiate in Canon Law, from Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum) in Rome.
1987: Doctorate in Canon Law, from Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum) in Rome.
𝐀𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬:
1985-1986: Missionary work in Chulucanas, Peru.
1988-1998: Various roles in Trujillo, Peru, including community prior, formation director, and professor.
1999-2001: Provincial of the Augustinian Province in Chicago.
2001-2013: Prior-General of the Order of Saint Augustine (two terms).
2014-2015: Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Chiclayo, Peru. 2015-2023: Bishop of Chiclayo, Peru.