Meet Pope Leo XIV: From Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost to the papacy, explore his life journey, Pennsylvania connections, and views on Trump.

On only the second day of the conclave, 133 cardinal electors decided on a new representative of the Catholic Church following Pope Francis’s death on Easter Monday.

After the highly anticipated white smoke billowed from the Sistine Chapel, Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost (now Pope Leo XIV) stepped onto the balcony at St. Peter’s Basilica to address the excited crowd below. Reuters said his brief address was spoken in Italian and Spanish, though he’s the first American to hold the position. “Peace be with you all,” he exclaimed, adding that he “is always looking for peace, charity, and being close to people, especially those who are suffering.”

Many people are eager to learn more about Pope Leo XIV, a leader who has largely maintained his privacy. Here’s more information about his life, vocation in the Catholic Church, and surprising ties to the Keystone State.

Who is Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost?

According to Vatican News, the newly appointed head of the Catholic Church and Vatican City was born in Chicago, Illinois, in 1955, making him 69. His father, Louis Marius Prevost, was of French and Italian descent, while his mother, Mildred Martínez, was of Spanish descent. He’s the third child in the family with two older brothers.

Not much is known about his childhood, but he first left home as a young adult to study at the Minor Seminary of the Augustinian Fathers. Subsequently, he attended Pennsylvania’s own Villanova University, the country’s only Augustinian Catholic university, where he earned a degree in mathematics in 1977. That very same year, he entered the novitiate of the Order of Saint Augustine (O.S.A.) in Saint Louis. Several years later, he made his solemn vows.

He went on to receive further theological education before becoming ordained as a priest in 1982. In 1985, he embarked on his first Augustinian mission to Chulucanas, Piura, Peru, where he served for more than a decade. Upon his return to Chicago, he held various roles until Pope Francis appointed him the Apostolic Administrator of the Peruvian Diocese of Chiclayo, also making him the Titular Bishop of Sufar.

In 2015, Pope Francis appointed Cardinal Prevost Bishop of Chiclayo, and in 2023, he was promoted to the rank of Archbishop. Most recently, in February of this year, Pope Francis promoted him to the Order of Bishops, bestowing upon him the title of the Suburbicarian Church of Albano.

What are his views? 

Although there didn’t seem to be a clear frontrunner for pope prior to the conclave, Cardinal Prevost had attracted popularity among his peers due to his humble and quiet nature, staunch support for Pope Francis, and commitment to social justice.

“Most of us thought a U.S. cardinal would never become pope, but Prevost got strong support from cardinals from Latin America where he worked for 20 years,” Rev. Thomas Reese, a longtime Jesuit commentator, told Reuters after news of the new pontiff broke. “He is multilingual and has a reputation as a listener. … The Holy Spirit continues to surprise us.”

Social media users were quick to find the new pope’s accounts, pointing out that he has used them to express disdain for President Trump and his Catholic second in command. According to The Hill, he “shared columns that disputed Vice President Vance’s interpretation of Christian ‘ordo amoris,’ ranking order of love, in February; linked to an article that lambasted Trump’s ‘anti-immigrant rhetoric’ as dangerous in 2015; and reposted messages against the death penalty, migrant deportations and Congress’s inaction on gun laws after deadly shootings.”

Vatican News states that Pope Leo XIV’s episcopal motto is “In Illo uno unum”—a phrase professed by Saint Augustine that translates to “In the one Christ we are one.”

Villanova’s reaction to the news

In a May 8 press release, Pope Leo XIV’s alma mater celebrated the news out of Vatican City.

“As an Augustinian Catholic institution, we celebrate this significant day for our University community and the global Church. Villanova, built on the teachings of St. Augustine, has always been grounded in advancing a deeper understanding of the fundamental relationship between faith and reason—between spirituality and wisdom,” said University President the Rev. Peter M. Donohue.

“With today’s election of His Holiness, Pope Leo XIV, I cannot help but reflect on what his Augustinian papacy will mean to our University community and our world. Known for his humility, gentle spirit, prudence and warmth, Pope Leo XIV’s leadership offers an opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to our educational mission.”