Pope Leo XIV

Pope Leo XIV, born Robert Francis Prevost, is the 267th Pope of the Catholic Church. The Chicago-born Augustinian was elected on 8 May 2025 after serving in Peru, leading the Order of Saint Augustine and holding senior Vatican offices.

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About Pope Leo XIV

Profile information current to 2026-08-22.

Pope, Catholic bishop, Augustinian religious · 5 affiliations

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Also known as: Robert Francis Prevost
Known for: Leadership of the Catholic Church; Augustinian religious leadership; Catholic ministry and church governance in Peru; Vatican episcopal administration

Pope
Catholic bishop
Augustinian religious

At a glance

Leo XIV was elected Pope on 8 May 2025 and formally began his Petrine ministry on 18 May 2025.
He is the first Pope from the United States and the first Augustinian Pope.
His career included missionary, formation and episcopal work in Peru, including service as Bishop of Chiclayo.
Before his election as Pope, he led the Order of Saint Augustine and later headed the Vatican office responsible for bishops.

Background and religious formation

Robert Francis Prevost was born in Chicago on 14 September 1955. He earned a mathematics degree from Villanova University in 1977, entered the Order of Saint Augustine that year and made solemn vows in 1981. After earning a Master of Divinity and undertaking canon-law studies in Rome, he was ordained a priest on 19 June 1982.

Augustinian leadership and ministry in Peru

Prevost carried out Augustinian mission and formation work in Peru, serving in Chulucanas and later holding community, teaching, judicial and parish responsibilities in Trujillo. He was elected Prior General of the Order of Saint Augustine in 2001 and confirmed for a second term in 2007, serving until 2013.

Episcopal and Vatican service

Pope Francis appointed Prevost Apostolic Administrator of Chiclayo in November 2014. He was ordained a bishop the following month and became Bishop of Chiclayo in September 2015. In April 2023 he assumed office as Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops and President of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America. Francis created him a cardinal in September 2023 and elevated him to the Order of Cardinal Bishops in February 2025.

Election as Pope

Prevost was elected Supreme Pontiff on 8 May 2025 and chose the name Leo XIV. His election made him the first Pope from the United States and the first member of the Order of Saint Augustine to become Pope. He presided over the celebration marking the formal beginning of his Petrine ministry on 18 May 2025, and Holy See material reviewed through 22 August 2026 continued to identify him as the 267th Pope.

Affiliations

Catholic Church Pope and Bishop of Rome present
Order of Saint Augustine Prior General 2001–2013
Diocese of Chiclayo Bishop of Chiclayo 2015-09-26
Dicastery for Bishops Prefect 2023-04-12
Pontifical Commission for Latin America President 2023-04-12

Timeline

1977 Earned a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from Villanova University and entered the Order of Saint Augustine.
1982-06-19 Was ordained a priest.
2001 Was elected Prior General of the Order of Saint Augustine and was confirmed for a second term in 2007.
2014-11-03 Was appointed Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Chiclayo and elevated to the episcopacy.
2023-04-12 Assumed office as Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops and President of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America.
2023-09-30 Was created a cardinal by Pope Francis.
2025-05-08 Was elected Supreme Pontiff and chose the name Leo XIV.
2025-05-18 Presided over the Eucharistic celebration marking the official beginning of his Petrine ministry.

Additional verified details

Current context

The Holy See identifies Leo XIV as the 267th Pope of the Catholic Church. Official Holy See material was issued in his name on 12 August 2026, and the Holy See's 2026 travel calendar listed pastoral visits by him for 22 August 2026.

Biographical facts

Robert Francis Prevost was born on 14 September 1955 in Chicago, Illinois, United States.
He earned a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from Villanova University, a Master of Divinity from Catholic Theological Union and licentiate and doctorate degrees in canon law in Rome.
He entered the Order of Saint Augustine in 1977, made solemn vows on 29 August 1981 and was ordained a priest on 19 June 1982.
Leo XIV is the first Pope from the United States and the first Augustinian Pope.