The joy was palpable in St. Peter’s Square and across the globe. Catholics—and many others—held their breath as the newly elected pope stepped onto the balcony, greeted the world, and delivered his first apostolic blessing, Urbi et Orbi. For millions, it was both a new chapter and a deepening of something ancient and sacred.
But who is Pope Leo XIV? What spirit and story does he bring to the papacy? And what might his election mean for the Catholic Church at this extraordinary moment?
Robert Francis Prevost was born September 14, 1955, on Chicago’s South Side in a hospital founded by the Sisters of Mercy. His roots are as American as they come, yet woven with threads of Italian, French, and Spanish heritage—a tapestry that reflects the diversity of the global Church he now leads.. The Prevost family was known locally for their faith, kindness, and strong sense of service.
Young Robert was an altar boy at St. Mary of the Assumption, a now-defunct parish on Chicago’s far southeast side. He was a good student—quiet, steady, and naturally drawn to both books and people. Those who knew him back then remember a boy who was always quick to help, whether it was shoveling snow for an elderly neighbor or tutoring classmates after school.
His academic path took him through an Augustinian minor seminary in Michigan, then to Villanova University for mathematics, and later to the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago for a Master of Divinity. But Rome called, too: he earned both licentiate and doctoral degrees in canon law from the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas.
Robert Francis Prevost’s calling wasn’t only to study but to serve. In 1977, he joined the Order of St. Augustine—one of the Church’s oldest religious communities—and professed his solemn vows in 1981. Soon, he was off to Peru, where he would spend years as a missionary in Chulucanas and later in Trujillo.
He wasn’t just a parish priest. He taught canon law, ran a seminary, and became a beloved figure in communities often overlooked by the world. In the dusty streets of Peru, he was “Padre Roberto,” known for visiting the sick, defending the poor, and championing education for children who had little hope of ever seeing a classroom.
A story is told in Trujillo of how he once walked miles barefoot to reach a remote village after his car broke down. “Padre Roberto never let anything stop him,” one local recalled. “He believed every person mattered to God.”
His missionary zeal—combined with deep intelligence and humility—caught the attention of Church leaders. In 2001, he was elected Prior General of the Augustinian Order, a role he would hold for more than a decade. In those years, he built bridges across continents, languages, and cultures.
In 2014, Pope Francis appointed Prevost as bishop of Chiclayo, Peru, where he continued his blend of pastoral care and academic rigor. He became known for his Eucharistic devotion—a trait that would shape his ministry at every step.
In 2023, he was summoned to Rome to serve as Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops, overseeing the selection of bishops worldwide. It was a role of enormous responsibility, and he brought to it the same gentle authority and sense of mission that had defined his life.
His elevation to cardinal came in September 2023, solidifying his place in the highest ranks of the Church. But to those who knew him in Chicago, he was still “Fr. Bob,” the priest who played tennis, ate hot dogs at White Sox games, and never forgot a name or a birthday.
When the College of Cardinals gathered after the death of Pope Francis, few predicted such a swift consensus. But in the Sistine Chapel, the Holy Spirit moved. On the second day, white smoke billowed above Rome. The world waited as the cardinal proto-deacon announced in Latin: “Habemus Papam! We have a pope!”
On May 8, 2025, Robert Francis Prevost became Pope Leo XIV, a name chosen to evoke strength, clarity, and a link to the great Leos of history.
The name “Leo” is potent in Catholic tradition. Pope Leo the Great, for example, is remembered for both his theological brilliance and his courage—famously confronting Attila the Hun and persuading him to spare Rome.
Leo means “lion,” a symbol of strength and faith. The last Pope Leo, Leo XIII, was a modernizer who embraced new technologies and opened the Vatican to the world. In choosing the name Leo XIV, the new pope signaled both continuity and a willingness to face the challenges of the modern age with courage.
Stepping onto the Loggia of Blessings, Pope Leo XIV greeted the world, his first words simple and heartfelt: “Peace be with all of you!”.
He continued:
“I, too, would like this greeting of peace to enter your hearts, to reach your families, all people, wherever they may be, all peoples, all the earth: Peace be with you. This is the peace of the Risen Christ, a disarming and humble and persevering peace. It comes from God”.
The Urbi et Orbi blessing reaches not only those in the square but Catholics everywhere, offering a plenary indulgence and a reminder of Christ’s universal love.
Above all, Pope Leo XIV is known for his devotion to the Eucharist. In his own words: “The Church does not simply believe in the Eucharist—she lives from it.” His years as a missionary, rector, and bishop were shaped by a reverence for the Real Presence of Christ in the Blessed Sacrament.
In a world often distracted by noise and novelty, his focus on the Eucharist draws the Church back to its heart: not a program or policy, but a Person—Jesus Christ.
Pope Leo XIV is approachable, humble, and deeply pastoral. He prefers listening to speaking, and he values unity over division. Fluent in multiple languages—English, Spanish, Italian, French, Portuguese, and able to read Latin and German—he is a true bridge-builder.
His theology is focused on the poor and marginalized, echoing Pope Francis’s priorities. He is outspoken about social justice, climate change, and immigration, urging Catholics to live out the Gospel not just in words but in deeds.
He is a moderate, balancing orthodoxy with compassion, tradition with openness.
Stories abound from both Chicago and Peru. There’s the tale of “Fr. Bob” pausing a tennis match to pray with a stranger in distress. Or the legend that, as Prior General, he would quietly pay hospital bills for sick friars from his own stipend.
In Peru, villagers recall how he once calmed a riot outside the church by standing between angry crowds and the police, simply holding up a crucifix and singing a hymn. “He brought peace where there was fear,” they say.
Catholic lore holds that Pope Leo the Great was visited by St. Peter in a dream before facing Attila the Hun. In the dream, Peter handed Leo the keys to the city and said, “Do not fear. You guard not just Rome, but the faith.” The next day, Attila turned back, and Rome was saved.
Choosing “Leo” is more than a tribute to history. It is a commitment to guarding the faith, facing dangers with courage, and leading with both wisdom and mercy.
Like Leo XIII, the first pope to be filmed, Leo XIV is expected to embrace technology in service of evangelization and communication. Already, he has surprised Vatican insiders with his willingness to livestream prayers, answer questions from young Catholics online, and host interfaith dialogues across digital platforms.
Privately, he is known for his love of tennis and for telling self-deprecating jokes—qualities that make him relatable in a world weary of pomp and pretense.
Pope Leo XIV steps into the papacy at a time of both challenge and hope. The Church faces secularization, internal divisions, and scandals, yet also unprecedented opportunities for renewal.
His vision is clear: return to the heart of the faith, the Eucharist; serve the poor and marginalized; build bridges, not walls; and trust in the Holy Spirit.
As the bells of St. Peter’s ring and the world looks to Rome, Catholics everywhere are invited to join in prayer for Pope Leo XIV.
A special rosary—the Pope Leo XIV Red Carnelian & White Jade Holy Spirit Rosary—has been created to honor both the pope and the power of the Holy Spirit at work in the Church.
Let us pray:
“Lord, bless Pope Leo XIV. Give him wisdom, courage, and humility as he leads your Church. May the Holy Spirit guide him, and may Mary, Mother of the Church, intercede for him always. Amen.”
In Pope Leo XIV, the Church finds a shepherd who is both rooted in tradition and open to the world. His journey from Chicago’s South Side to the Vatican is a testament to God’s surprising grace and the universality of the Catholic faith.
As he reminds us, the source and summit of our faith is not a program or policy, but a Person—Jesus Christ, present in the Eucharist. May Pope Leo XIV’s pontificate be long, fruitful, and marked by peace.
