Cardinal Robert Prevost elected Pope, making him the 1st American to hold the title
Prevost has chosen Pope Leo XIV as his name. He was elected the conclave’s 2nd day
CBC
News brings special coverage, including reporting from the Vatican,
reaction and analysis, after cardinals elected a new Pope, the first
American to lead the Catholic Church.
The Latest
- Robert Francis Prevost, 69, has made his first address as Pope Leo XIV on the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica.
- At about 6:10 p.m. local time (12:10 p.m. ET), white smoke emanated from the Sistine Chapel chimney, meaning a new pope has been chosen.
- Cheers erupted in St. Peter's Square as the smoke billowed.
- The 133 cardinal electors – the largest college in history — came to a two-thirds consensus in their fourth ballot of the conclave.
- The average length of a conclave in recent decades is three days. A new pope has been elected after two this time.
- Do you have any questions about electing a new pope or the conclave process? Send an email to ask@cbc.ca.
What we know about Pope Leo XIV
May 8, 2025
Chicago-born Cardinal Robert Prevost has been elected Pope, becoming the first American to hold the title. The new leader of the Catholic Church, who will go by the name of Pope Leo XIV, also has Peruvian citizenship
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Pope Leo XIV
Pope Leo XIV[a] (born Robert Francis Prevost; 14 September 1955) is the head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of Vatican City State since 2025. He is the first North American and the first Peruvian to be elected pope. He is also the seventh Augustinian pope,[b] and the first since Eugene IV (d. 1447) to lead the Catholic Church.
Born in Chicago, Illinois, US, Prevost spent the early part of his career there working for the Augustinians. He served in Peru from 1985 to 1986 and from 1988 to 1998 as a parish pastor, diocesan official, seminary teacher and administrator. He served as Bishop of Chiclayo in Peru from 2015 to 2023, and was general of the Order of Saint Augustine from 2001 to 2013. He was made a cardinal in 2023 by Pope Francis. He was appointed prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops and president of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America in 2023. In 2023, Francis appointed Prevost as the prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops, a prominent role that raised his profile as a potential papal candidate.[1][2][3]
Born in Chicago, Illinois, US, Prevost spent the early part of his career there working for the Augustinians. He served in Peru from 1985 to 1986 and from 1988 to 1998 as a parish pastor, diocesan official, seminary teacher and administrator. He served as Bishop of Chiclayo in Peru from 2015 to 2023, and was general of the Order of Saint Augustine from 2001 to 2013. He was made a cardinal in 2023 by Pope Francis. He was appointed prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops and president of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America in 2023. In 2023, Francis appointed Prevost as the prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops, a prominent role that raised his profile as a potential papal candidate.[1][2][3]
Early life and education
Robert Francis Prevost was born in Chicago on 14 September 1955, the son of Louis Marius Prevost and Mildred Martínez.[4] His father, who was a United States Navy veteran of World War II and school administrator,[5] was of French and Italian descent, and his mother, a librarian, was of Spanish descent.[6][7] Prevost has two brothers.[7] As a child, Prevost served as an altar boy at St. Mary of the Assumption Church on the far South Side of Chicago.[7] He completed his secondary studies at the minor seminary of the Order of St. Augustine in 1973. Prevost earned a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics at Villanova University in 1977.[8]
Prevost speaks English, Spanish, Italian, French, and Portuguese, and can read Latin and German.[1]
Augustinian (1977–2025)
Deciding to become a priest, Prevost joined the Order of St. Augustine in September 1977, taking his first vows in September 1978 and his solemn vows in August 1981.[9] The following year, he was awarded a Master of Divinity degree from the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago.[10] While there, he substituted as a physics teacher occasionally at St. Rita of Cascia High School and also taught math part-time.[7]
Prevost was ordained a priest by Archbishop Jean Jadot for the Augustinians in Rome on June 19, 1982.[9] He 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.[8][11]
Prevost joined the Augustinian mission in Peru in 1985 and served as chancellor of the Territorial Prélature of Chulucanas from 1985 to 1986.[12] He returned to Peru in 1988, spending the next ten years heading the Augustinian seminary in Trujillo. He also taught canon law in the diocesan seminary and served as prefect of studies. Prevost served as judge of the regional ecclesiastical court and a member of the College of Consultors of Trujillo. He also led a congregation on the outskirts of the city.[13]
In 1998, Prevost was elected provincial of the Augustinian Province of Chicago and returned to the United States to assume that position on March 8, 1999.[12]
In 2000, Prevost allowed Father James Ray, an Augustinian priest, to reside at St. John Stone Friary in Chicago under a monitor, refraining from public ministry, after the first rectory proposed for his residence was rejected by the archdiocesan review board because it was on the same property as a parish school. Ray had been suspended from public ministry since 1991 due to credible accusations of sexual abuse of minors. Ray was moved to a different residence in 2002 when the US Conference of Catholic Bishops adopted stricter rules for handling priests accused of abusing minors.[14][15][c]
In 2001, Prevost was elected to a six-year term as Prior General of the Augustinians. He was elected to a second six-year term in 2007. From 2013 to 2014, Prevost served as director of formation in the Convent of St. Augustine in Chicago, as well as first councilor and provincial vicar of the province of Our Mother of Good Counsel, which covers the midwestern United States.[13][16]
Deciding to become a priest, Prevost joined the Order of St. Augustine in September 1977, taking his first vows in September 1978 and his solemn vows in August 1981.[9] The following year, he was awarded a Master of Divinity degree from the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago.[10] While there, he substituted as a physics teacher occasionally at St. Rita of Cascia High School and also taught math part-time.[7]
Prevost was ordained a priest by Archbishop Jean Jadot for the Augustinians in Rome on June 19, 1982.[9] He 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.[8][11]
Prevost joined the Augustinian mission in Peru in 1985 and served as chancellor of the Territorial Prélature of Chulucanas from 1985 to 1986.[12] He returned to Peru in 1988, spending the next ten years heading the Augustinian seminary in Trujillo. He also taught canon law in the diocesan seminary and served as prefect of studies. Prevost served as judge of the regional ecclesiastical court and a member of the College of Consultors of Trujillo. He also led a congregation on the outskirts of the city.[13]
In 1998, Prevost was elected provincial of the Augustinian Province of Chicago and returned to the United States to assume that position on March 8, 1999.[12]
In 2000, Prevost allowed Father James Ray, an Augustinian priest, to reside at St. John Stone Friary in Chicago under a monitor, refraining from public ministry, after the first rectory proposed for his residence was rejected by the archdiocesan review board because it was on the same property as a parish school. Ray had been suspended from public ministry since 1991 due to credible accusations of sexual abuse of minors. Ray was moved to a different residence in 2002 when the US Conference of Catholic Bishops adopted stricter rules for handling priests accused of abusing minors.[14][15][c]
In 2001, Prevost was elected to a six-year term as Prior General of the Augustinians. He was elected to a second six-year term in 2007. From 2013 to 2014, Prevost served as director of formation in the Convent of St. Augustine in Chicago, as well as first councilor and provincial vicar of the province of Our Mother of Good Counsel, which covers the midwestern United States.[13][16]
Bishop of Chiclayo
On 3 November 2014, Pope Francis appointed Prevost as apostolic administrator of the Diocese of Chiclayo and titular bishop of Sufar.[13] He received his episcopal consecration on 12 December 2014 at St. Mary's Cathedral in Chiclayo.[17] On 26 September 2015, he was named bishop of Chiclayo.[8]
On 13 July 2019, Prevost was appointed a member of the Congregation for the Clergy in Rome, although he initially declared that only the humble ones are eligible.[18] On 15 April 2020, he was named apostolic administrator of Callao in Peru.[19] On November 21, 2020, Francis named him a member of the Congregation for Bishops.[20]
Alleged victims of abuse, dating back to 2007 from two priests said that Prevost failed to open an investigation in 2022. According to the Diocese of Chiclayo, Cardinal Prevost met with the young women in April 2022 and encouraged them to take their case to the civil authorities while opening an initial canonical investigation.[21]
Within the Episcopal Conference of Peru, Prevost served on the permanent council for the 2018 to 2020 term.[22] He was elected in 2019 as president of its Commission for Education and Culture. He was also a member of the leadership of Caritas Peru. Prevost had a private audience with Francis on March 1, 2021,[23] fueling speculation of a new assignment either in Chicago or Rome.[24]
On 3 November 2014, Pope Francis appointed Prevost as apostolic administrator of the Diocese of Chiclayo and titular bishop of Sufar.[13] He received his episcopal consecration on 12 December 2014 at St. Mary's Cathedral in Chiclayo.[17] On 26 September 2015, he was named bishop of Chiclayo.[8]
On 13 July 2019, Prevost was appointed a member of the Congregation for the Clergy in Rome, although he initially declared that only the humble ones are eligible.[18] On 15 April 2020, he was named apostolic administrator of Callao in Peru.[19] On November 21, 2020, Francis named him a member of the Congregation for Bishops.[20]
Alleged victims of abuse, dating back to 2007 from two priests said that Prevost failed to open an investigation in 2022. According to the Diocese of Chiclayo, Cardinal Prevost met with the young women in April 2022 and encouraged them to take their case to the civil authorities while opening an initial canonical investigation.[21]
Within the Episcopal Conference of Peru, Prevost served on the permanent council for the 2018 to 2020 term.[22] He was elected in 2019 as president of its Commission for Education and Culture. He was also a member of the leadership of Caritas Peru. Prevost had a private audience with Francis on March 1, 2021,[23] fueling speculation of a new assignment either in Chicago or Rome.[24]
Dicastery for Bishops
On 30 January 2023, Francis appointed Prevost prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops with the title archbishop-bishop emeritus of Chiclayo.[25][26] At the September 30 consistory, Francis appointed him cardinal-deacon of Chapel of Santa Monica degli Agostiniani in Rome.[27] In 2023, Pope Francis appointed him as the Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops, a key position within the Roman Curia. The office is responsible for evaluating and recommending candidates for the episcopate around the world. This role increased Prevost's visibility and influence within the Catholic Church, raising his profile ahead of any future papal conclave.[28]
On 6 February 2025, Francis promoted Prevost to cardinal-bishop, assigning him to the Suburbicarian Diocese of Albano in the Province of Rome.[29][30]
Papacy (since 2025)
On 8 May 2025, the second day of the 2025 papal conclave, Prevost became the first Pope from North America. He took the papal name Leo XIV, following on from Leo XIII.[31] About an hour after his election, Pope Leo XIV was announced by cardinal Dominique Mamberti, Protodeacon of the College of Cardinals, from the balcony of Saint Peter's Basilica on which Leo himself then appeared to greet the gathered crowds.[32] Unlike Francis, who chose to wear simple white robes, Leo XIV wore full papal mozetta.[33]
On 30 January 2023, Francis appointed Prevost prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops with the title archbishop-bishop emeritus of Chiclayo.[25][26] At the September 30 consistory, Francis appointed him cardinal-deacon of Chapel of Santa Monica degli Agostiniani in Rome.[27] In 2023, Pope Francis appointed him as the Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops, a key position within the Roman Curia. The office is responsible for evaluating and recommending candidates for the episcopate around the world. This role increased Prevost's visibility and influence within the Catholic Church, raising his profile ahead of any future papal conclave.[28]
On 6 February 2025, Francis promoted Prevost to cardinal-bishop, assigning him to the Suburbicarian Diocese of Albano in the Province of Rome.[29][30]
Papacy (since 2025)
On 8 May 2025, the second day of the 2025 papal conclave, Prevost became the first Pope from North America. He took the papal name Leo XIV, following on from Leo XIII.[31] About an hour after his election, Pope Leo XIV was announced by cardinal Dominique Mamberti, Protodeacon of the College of Cardinals, from the balcony of Saint Peter's Basilica on which Leo himself then appeared to greet the gathered crowds.[32] Unlike Francis, who chose to wear simple white robes, Leo XIV wore full papal mozetta.[33]
Views
Gender
Then-Cardinal Prevost opposed the inclusion of curriculum regarding "teachings on gender in schools" in Peru, stating that the "promotion of gender ideology is confusing, because it seeks to create genders that don't exist".[34]
Homosexuality
Further information: Catholic Church and homosexuality
In 2012, then-Cardinal Prevost lamented that popular culture fostered "sympathy for beliefs and practices that are at odds with the Gospel", citing the "homosexual lifestyle" and "alternative families comprised of same-sex partners and their adopted children".[34]
Missions
Pope Leo XIV, as a cardinal, was passionate about serving in Augustinian missions throughout the world.[35] He was a supporter of the Chulucanas missions in Peru, which were erected after the Second Vatican Council.[35]
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