Pope Leo XIV (born Robert Francis Prevost) is the second Roman Pontiff, after Pope Francis, from the Americas. Unlike Jorge Mario Bergoglio, however, the 69-year-old Robert Francis Prevost is from the northern part of the continent, though he spent many years as a missionary in Peru before being elected head of the Augustinians for two consecutive terms.
Born on September 14, 1955, Pope Leo, the first-ever American pope, was elected during the 2025 papal conclave on May 8, 2025, after the death of Pope Francis. In this exclusive biography, we will discuss everything you need to know about Pope Leo XIV, from his early life, education, and career to controversies, personal life, and more.
Robert Prevost Biography
Early Life
Robert Francis Prevost was born to Mildred (née Martínez) Prevost and Louis Marius Prevost on September 14, 1955, at Mercy Hospital in the Bronzeville neighbourhood of Chicago, Illinois, United States. According to his birthday, he was born under the Virgo zodiac sign. Prevost was raised Catholic, holds American nationality, and has mixed ancestry (Ecuadorian, French, and Italian descent).
His mother, Mildred, was a degree holder in library science, while his father, Louis, was a United States Navy veteran of World War II and a superintendent. Prevost has two older brothers, Louis and John. He was raised in Dolton, Illinois, where he grew up in St Mary of the Assumption parish, where he went to school, sang in the choir, and served as an altar boy.
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Education
Prevost received his secondary education at St. Augustine Seminary High School, earning a Letter of Commendation for academic excellence. There he served as yearbook editor-in-chief, secretary of the student council, and a member of the National Honour Society. In 1977, Prevost earned a Bachelor of Science in mathematics from Villanova University and later obtained a Master of Divinity from Catholic Theological Union in Chicago in 1982.
Two years later, Prevost obtained a licentiate of canon law (1984) and a doctor of canon law (1987) from the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas in Rome. In 2014, Villanova University conferred an honorary Doctor of Humanities degree upon him.
Quick Biography
| Quick Biography | Answers |
| Birthname | Robert Francis Prevost |
| Date of Birth | September 14, 1955 |
| Hometown | Chicago, Illinois, United States |
| Age | 69 years old |
| Nationality | American |
| Zodiac Sign | Virgo |
| Ethnicity | Mixed (Ecuadorian, French, and Italian descent) |
| Office | Sovereign of Vatican City State |
| Father’s Name | Louis Marius Prevost |
| Mother’s Name | Mildred (née Martínez) Prevost |
| Siblings | 2 |
| References | Wikipedia |
Career
Trainning & Early Priesthood
In September 1977, Robert Prevost joined the Order of St Augustine as a novice and took his first vows in September 1978. In August 1981, he took his solemn vows. On June 19, 1982, Prevost ordained a priest by Archbishop Jean Jadot for the Augustinians in Rome, serving as a physics and math teacher at St. Rita of Cascia High School in Chicago during his studies at the Catholic Theological Union.
Mission in Peru
In 1985, Robert Prevost joined the mission in Peru, serving as chancellor of the Territorial Prelature of Chulucanas (1985–1986). After spending a decade, he returned to Peru and joined the mission in Trujillo, also in Peru, as director of the joint formation project for Augustinian candidates from the vicariates of Chulucanas, Iquitos, and Apurímac.
Over the course of eleven years, Prevost served as prior of the community (1988-1992), formation director (1988-1998), and instructor for professed members (1992-1998), as well as judicial vicar (1989-1998) and professor of Canon Law, Patristics, and Moral Theology at the Major Seminary “San Carlos y San Marcelo” in the Archdiocese of Trujillo.
During the same time, he was entrusted with the pastoral care of Our Lady Mother of the Church, later created as the parish of Saint Rita (1988-1999), in a disadvantaged neighbourhood of the city, and served as parish administrator of Our Lady of Monserrat from 1992 to 1999.
Prior General of the Order of Saint Augustine
In 1999, Prevost was elected Provincial Prior of the Augustinian Province of “Mother of Good Counsel” in Chicago. In 2001, he was elected Prior General of the Order of Saint Augustine, where he served two six-year terms until 2013. During his term, complaints of abuse against minors were made against former Providence Catholic High School president Richard McGrath, who was removed in 2017 following a child pornography investigation. From 2013 to 2014, Prevost served as director of formation at the Convent of St Augustine in Chicago and as first councillor and provincial vicar of the Province of Our Mother of Good Counsel.
Bishop of Chiclayo
On November 3, 2014, Pope Francis appointed Prevost as apostolic administrator of the Diocese of Chiclayo and titular bishop of Sufar. He was named bishop of Chiclayo on September 26, 2015. Prevost became a naturalised Peruvian citizen before becoming bishop, in accordance with a diplomatic treaty. He was appointed a member of the Congregation for the Clergy in 2019, became apostolic administrator of Callao in 2020, and joined the Congregation for Bishops in 2020. From 2018 to 2020, Prevost served as a permanent council with the Episcopal Conference of Peru.
Dicastery for Bishops and elevation to cardinalate
On January 30, 2023, Pope Francis appointed Prevost prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops with the title archbishop-bishop emeritus of Chiclayo. On September 30 of the same year, he was created cardinal-deacon of Santa Monica degli Agostiniani in Rome, playing critical roles in evaluating and recommending episcopal candidates worldwide. Pope Francis promoted Prevost to Cardinal-Bishop on February 6, 2025, assigning him as titulary bishop of the Suburbicarian Diocese of Albano.
Papacy (2025–present)
On May 8, 2025, Robert Francis Prevost was elected Pope at the 2025 papal conclave, thereby becoming the first American and Peruvian pontiff. He embraced the cardinals upon exiting the Sistine Chapel after accepting his election, which occurred at the fourth round of voting. Cardinal Dominique Mamberti, the protodeacon, announced the Habemus papam from the central loggia of Saint Peter’s Basilica, proclaiming Prevost’s name and papal title as Leo XIV, which was “a clear reference to Leo XIII’s Rerum Novarum”, according to Matteo Bruni, director of the Holy See press office.
Controversy and Accusations
Robert Francis Prevost has been accused of a cover-up of sexual abuse. In 2022, the victims of 2007 abuse by priests Ricardo Yesquén and Eleuterio Vásquez Gonzáles accused Prevost of failing to investigate their case. According to the Diocese of Chiclayo, Prevost met with Ana María Quispe and her sisters in April 2022, supporting civil action and commencing a canonical investigation. In 2024, the sisters complained of a lack of a proper penal canonical inquiry, and a story from América Televisión supported this claim.
Personal Life
Robert Prevost has two brothers. His brothers are Louis, a military veteran living in Florida at the time of Prevost’s election as pope, and John, a retired Catholic school principal. In an interview with ABC News, Prevost said two of his neighbours saw him as a future Pope when he was in first grade.
Prevost is a sports fan and an amateur tennis player. He is a fan of the Chicago White Sox of Major League Baseball, having attended a home game during the 2005 World Series. Besides his native English, he is also fluent in Spanish, Italian, French, and Portuguese and can read Latin and German.
Frequnelty Asked Questions?
Q. What is the nationality of Pope Leo XIV?
Ans: He holds American nationality.
Q. Where is Pope Leo XIV from?
Ans: Pope Leo was born in Chicago, Illinois, United States.
Q. What ethnicity is Pope Leo?
Ans: He is of mixed ancestry (Ecuadorian, French, and Italian descent).
Q. Who are Robert Prevost’s parents?
Ans: His father, Louis Prevost, a United States Navy veteran of World War II and a superintendent of schools in the south suburbs of Chicago. His mother, Mildred, was a degree holder in library science.
Q. Does Pope Leo have siblings?
Ans: He has two brothers: Louis Martín Prevost and John Joseph Prevost.
Q. Is Robert Prevost Peruvian or American?
Ans: Prevost is an Amercican. Accoridng to sources he is also a Peruvian citizen.
