The Roman Catholic Church got a new pope on Thursday after cardinals elected Cardinal Robert Prevost whose papal name is Pope Leo XIV.
Pope Leo XIV becomes the first American to ascend to the papacy on Thursday, 8th May, 2025.
Here are 10 essential facts to understand the new pontiff:
1. Born Robert Prevost in Chicago, Illinois, in 1955, Pope Leo XIV is the first U.S.-born pope in the Catholic Church’s history.
2. Described as a centrist, Pope Leo XIV aligns closely with Pope Francis on issues like outreach to the poor, migrants, and environmental concerns. His pragmatic approach seeks to balance progressive and conservative elements within the Church.
3. Deciding to become a priest, Pope Leo XIV joined the Order of St. Augustine in September 1977, taking his first vows in September 1978 and his solemn vows in August 1981.
4. The following year, he was awarded a Master of Divinity degree from the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago. While there, he substituted as a physics teacher occasionally at St. Rita of Cascia High School and also taught math part-time.
5. Pope Leo XIV was ordained a priest by Archbishop Jean Jadot for the Augustinians in Rome on June 19, 1982.
6. Robert Prevost earned a Licentiate of Canon Law in 1984 and a Doctor of Canon Law degree in 1987 from the Pontifical College of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome.
7. For 30 years, Pope Leo XIV served as a missionary in Peru, where he also gained Peruvian citizenship. His work focused on supporting impoverished communities, shaping his commitment to social justice.
8. Pope Leo XIV holds a degree in mathematics and studied theology in Chicago and Rome. Ordained as a priest in 1982, his academic foundation informs his analytical approach to Church governance.
9. Before his election, Cardinal Robert Prevost served as head of the Dicastery for Bishops, a key role in appointing Church leaders.
10. During his time as the head of the Dicastery for Bishops, Pope Leo XIV was responsible for evaluating and recommending candidates for the episcopate around the world.
