Pope Leo XIV is the First American to Lead the Catholic Church
Robert Francis Prevost, prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops, is the new Pope of the Catholic Church, according to published reports.
Chicago native Prevost, an Augustinian, is the first American Pope and will be known as Pope Leo XIV.
There's a local angle here, too, as Prevost is a graduate of Villanova.
Photograph: Riccardo De Luca/AP
From The Guardian prior to the Pope's selection:
Despite the Vatican’s longstanding opposition to the idea of a pope from the US because of the country’s superpower status and secular global influence, the moderate, Chicago-born Prevost is still one to watch.
Created a cardinal by Francis in 2023, the former leader of the Augustinian order was also appointed by the late pope to the powerful Dicastery for Bishops, which oversees the selection of new bishops from around the world.
Those senior roles, combined with the fact that he has significant missionary experience in Peru, having served as bishop of the northern city of Chiclayo, may go some way to redeeming him in the eyes of those who would not usually countenance the idea of an American pope.
Born in Chicago, Prevost spent the early part of his career there working for the Augustinians. He served in Peru from 1985 to 1986 and from 1988 to 1998 as a parish pastor, diocesan official, seminary teacher and administrator. He was made a cardinal in 2023.
From Villanova Magazine:
On July 9, [2023] to those faithful gathered in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican, Pope Francis appeared at his balcony window to announce that he would elevate 21 churchmen to the high rank of cardinal. One of the chosen was the American-born Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, OSA, ’77 CLAS, prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops.
“This is an office of the utmost responsibility and service to the universal Church,” says the Rev. Robert Hagan, OSA, JD, ’87 CLAS, prior provincial of the Province of St. Thomas of Villanova. “Our hearts rejoice for our brother Bob, who has earned this position through years of faithful service and love of God.”
