Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, the Archbishop of Chicago, has been elected the new Pope, taking the name Leo XIV. Prevost was born in Chicago on September 14, 1955. Fiore then takes us into his deep history in the Catholic Church, as an altar boy and then choir member in his youth. His ascendancy to the papal office will prove a momentous occasion for the worldwide Catholic Church. It provides a glimpse of his deep roots in the church and his fierce commitment to outreach.
Prevost’s family belonged to St. Mary of the Assumption Parish, where he unknowingly built a firm foundation for his faith. Watermark, Michigan native John L. Allen Jr. attended St. Augustine Seminary High School in Bay View, MI. There, he began to dream of a future focused on ministry. His parents’ diverse heritage—his father having French and Italian roots and his mother being of Spanish descent with Creole ancestry—has contributed to his inclusive worldview.
In 1984, Prevost received his licentiate and was dispatched to the Augustinian mission in Peru the following year. His dedication to the cause led him first to be elected general of the Augustinians worldwide in 2002. He did so with great zeal for 10 years. Under his leadership, he developed a reputation for his hands-on approach and real worry over the Church’s ability to reach marginalized communities.
Prevost’s ascendance in the church has come without dissent. He has endured unprecedented criticism for the way child sex abuse cases have been addressed among the clergy. This reflects the reality of many high-ranking church officials face. Nevertheless, he emphasizes the importance of humility in his role, stating, “The bishop is not supposed to be a little prince sitting in his kingdom.”
Similarly, in recent years, Prevost has taken on the onerous burdens. He was appointed Bishop of Chiclayo in Peru in 2015 and received the red hat from Pope Francis in 2023. His new role as head of the Vatican Dicastery for Bishops allows him to influence critical decisions affecting the Church worldwide.
Fluent in multiple languages—English, Spanish, Italian, French, and Portuguese—Prevost is especially qualified to advocate with communities around the world. He brings a blazing passion for life, characterized by colleagues as “friendly” and blessed with a “wry sense of humor.”
Prevost’s path to the papacy has similarly been shaped by personal relationships. An alluring lead His brother, John Prevost, recently dropped an exhilarating bombshell. While playing these online games, they cooked up the idea of using Leo as a papal name. Bob Reiter remarked on this choice, noting, “By selecting the name Leo, the new pope signaled his solidarity with working people and gave a nod to his South Side working-class roots.” On a historical note, he takes a lot of inspiration from Pope Leo XIII, aka “The Pope of the Workers.”
When he’s not working, Prevost likes to play tennis and eat at Aurelio’s Pizza when he visits home. His commitment to public service is still clear, as he juggles his own pursuits with his duties to the public.
“He was always friendly and warm.” – Rev. Mark Francis
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