Robert Prevost Becomes First American Pope, Takes the Name Leo XIV
Elected by 133 cardinals from 70 countries, Pope Leo XIV signals a new chapter for the Catholic Church, blending tradition with reformist undertones.
Watan-133 cardinals from 70 countries have elected American Cardinal Robert Prevost as the new Pope and leader of the Catholic Church, succeeding the late Pope Francis. Prevost becomes the 267th Pope—and the first American in history to hold the position. The 69-year-old chose the papal name Leo XIV.
Robert Francis Prevost, of French, Italian, and Spanish heritage, was born on September 14, 1955, in Chicago. He studied mathematics and philosophy at Villanova University in Philadelphia.
He served as a missionary in Peru from 1985 to 1998 and is a member of the Augustinian Order, which elected him as Superior General in 2001, a post he held until 2013. He continued his ministry in Latin America, becoming Bishop in Peru in 2014. He later led the Congregation for Bishops and was made Cardinal by Pope Francis in 2023.
His writings emphasize love, truth-seeking, interior life, and the importance of community. His choice of the name “Leo XIV” is particularly noteworthy, echoing Pope Leo XIII (1878–1903), known for the 1891 encyclical Rerum Novarum, which laid the foundation for Catholic social teaching on labor rights and justice—while also rejecting Marxism.
Pope Leo XIV Calls for Global Peace and Unity, Rebukes Hierarchy of Love
Quoting St. Augustine, he said: “For you, I am a bishop; with you, I am a Christian,” signaling a commitment to listening and unity.
In a February 3 social media post, he appeared to rebuke U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance, who had said on Fox News that he “orders his love” by putting family first and the rest of the world last. The Pope wrote: “Jesus did not ask us to rank our love for others.”
Pope Leo XIV Faces Scrutiny Over LGBTQ+ Views and Abuse Cases Amid Calls for Peace
This message may reflect growing influence from Latino Catholics in the U.S., where demographics are shifting.
However, Pope Leo XIV appears more conservative than his predecessor on LGBTQIA+ issues. In 2012, he expressed concern over Western cultures promoting sympathy toward lifestyles “contrary to the Gospel,” specifically referencing same-sex life.
According to The New York Times, he has also faced criticism for his handling of sexual abuse cases in the Chiclayo Diocese in Peru, where two priests under his leadership were accused of abuse. These cases may resurface.
His progressive social ideas—within certain doctrinal limits—may not appeal to all cardinals, yet in a world beset by war and growing religious and racial hatred, the Pope’s voice remains vital, particularly on peace.
