Habemus papam. With this phrase, the North American Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost was introduced to the world this Thursday (8) as the 267th pope of the Church, directly from the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, in the Vatican.
The name chosen by the new pontiff is Leo XIV. He succeeds Francis, who died on April 21.
The announcement by Robert Francis Prevost took place just over an hour after white smoke emerged, early in the afternoon of this Thursday the 8th, from the chimney installed over the Sistine Chapel, signaling that the 133 cardinals gathered had reached a consensus.
The election of the new pope took place after the third vote of the day and the fourth general vote, which began on Wednesday, the 7th. The white smoke sent the crowd gathered in St. Peter’s Square into ecstasy.
Next steps
According to the Vatican, after Robert Francis Prevost appears at the window of St. Peter’s Basilica, he returns to the Sistine Chapel, where a brief ceremony begins, introduced by the greeting of the most senior cardinal of the Order of Bishops.
The most senior cardinal-priest then reads a passage from the Gospel, which may be “You are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church” or “Feed my sheep.” The protodeacon then offers a prayer for the newly elected pope.
Shortly afterwards, all the cardinal electors, in order of precedence, approach to greet the new pontiff and swear obedience to him. The ceremony ends with the singing of the Te Deum, led by the newly elected pope himself.
Who is Pope Leo XIV?
Born on September 14, 1955, in Chicago, he is the son of Louis Marius Prevost, of French and Italian descent, and Mildred Martínez, of Spanish descent. He has two brothers, Louis Martín and John Joseph. He completed his secondary studies at the minor seminary of the Order of Saint Augustine in 1973.
Prevost earned a Bachelor of Arts in mathematics from Villanova University in 1977. He joined the Augustinians on September 1, 1977, took his first vows on September 2, 1978, and made his solemn vows on August 29, 1981. The following year, he earned a Master of Divinity degree from the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago.
Prevost was ordained a priest of the Order of Saint Augustine in Rome on June 19, 1982. He earned a licentiate and a doctorate in canon law from the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome in 1984 and 1987, respectively.
Prevost joined the Augustinian mission in Peru in 1985 and served as chancellor of the Territorial Prelature of Chulucanas from 1985 to 1986. He spent 1987-1988 in the United States as a vocational pastor and mission director for the Augustinian Province of Chicago. He then returned to Peru, where he spent the next ten years as head of the Augustinian seminary in Trujillo and taught canon law at the diocesan seminary, serving as prefect of studies. He was a judge of the regional ecclesiastical tribunal and a member of the College of Consultors of Trujillo. He also led a congregation on the outskirts of the city. In 1998, Prevost was elected provincial of the Augustinian Province of Chicago and returned to the United States to assume that position on March 8, 1999. Beginning in 2000, Prevost allowed Father James Ray, a priest then accused of abusing minors whose ministry had been restricted since 1991, to reside at the Augustinians’ St. John Stone Monastery in Chicago, despite its proximity to a Catholic elementary school. Ray was provided with a monitor while he was in residence, and the school was not notified. He was transferred to a different residence in 2002, when church officials adopted stricter rules for priests accused of abusing minors. In 2001, Prevost was elected to a six-year term as prior general of the Augustinians. He was elected to a second six-year term in 2007. From 2013 to 2014, Prevost served as director of formation at the Convent of St. Augustine in Chicago, as well as first counselor and vicar provincial of the Province of Our Mother of Good Counsel, which covers the Midwestern United States. On November 3, 2014, Pope Francis appointed Prevost apostolic administrator of the Diocese of Chiclayo and titular bishop of Sufar. He received episcopal consecration on December 12, 2014. On September 26, 2015, he was appointed bishop of Chiclayo. On July 13, 2019, Prevost was appointed a member of the Congregation for the Clergy. On April 15, 2020, he was appointed apostolic administrator of Callao, Peru. On November 21, 2020, Pope Francis appointed him a member of the Congregation for Bishops.
In the Episcopal Conference of Peru, Prevost served on the permanent council for the 2018-2020 term. He was elected president of the Education and Culture Commission in 2019. He was also a member of Caritas Peru’s leadership. Prevost had a private audience with Pope Francis on March 1, 2021, fueling speculation about a new mission in Chicago or Rome.
On January 30, 2023, Pope Francis appointed him Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops, effective April 12th, with the title of Archbishop-Bishop Emeritus of Chiclayo.
On July 9, 2023, Pope Francis announced during the Angelus that he would create him a cardinal in the Consistory of September 30, 2023. He received the red biretta and the deaconry of Santa Monica degli Agostiniani.
On February 6, 2025, he was elevated to the rank of cardinal-bishop, receiving the suburbicarian see of Albano.
Prevost was considered a possible candidate for the papacy. In 2023, Pope Francis appointed him Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops, a key position within the Roman Curia. The office is responsible for evaluating and recommending candidates for the episcopate worldwide. The role has increased Prevost’s visibility and influence within the Catholic Church, potentially raising his profile ahead of any future papal conclave.
Prevost has faced criticism from advocates for survivors of clergy abuse over his handling of allegations of sexual abuse during his leadership of the Augustinian order and in Peru. The advocacy group SNAP (Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests) has alleged that Prevost failed to act on abuse allegations involving Richard McGrath, the former president of Providence Catholic High School, allowing him to remain in his position despite long-standing allegations.