“From Chicago to the Chair of St. Peter: The Rise of Pope Leo XIV”
The world watched in awe on Thursday as white smoke rose from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel, signaling the election of a new pope. For the first time in history, that man hails from the United States.
Chicago-born Robert Francis Prevost, a 69-year-old cardinal with deep roots in missionary work and a reputation for quiet but steady leadership, was chosen by his fellow cardinals to lead the Catholic Church as Pope Leo the Fourteenth.
This Friday morning at 11:00 a.m. Rome time, Pope Leo XIV will return to the Sistine Chapel to celebrate his first Mass as pontiff, joined by the cardinals who elected him. Though the Mass will be private, it will be broadcast by Vatican Media, and millions around the world are expected to tune in to hear his very first homily.
While his name might be unfamiliar to many, especially outside Church circles, Leo XIV has long been regarded as a bridge-builder — a man comfortable navigating cultural, political, and theological divides. In the coming days, his words and actions will be closely scrutinized, starting with Sunday’s Regina Coeli prayer and his first meeting with journalists on Monday.
Thursday evening, he made his first public appearance on the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, where he echoed the message of his predecessor, Pope Francis, calling for peace, unity, and dialogue.
“Help us, and each other, to build bridges through dialogue, through encounter,” he urged the crowd in St. Peter’s Square. “To come together as one people, always in peace. We must seek together how to be a missionary Church — one that holds dialogue and is always open.”
World leaders quickly responded, welcoming the election of the 267th pope. Even former U.S. President Donald Trump, whose policies Prevost once quietly criticized, called the moment “a great honor” for the United States.https://shorturl.at/PH81x
Prevost’s election comes just weeks after the death of Pope Francis on Easter Monday at the age of 88. Francis had served as pope for 12 years, becoming a globally beloved figure known for his humility, compassion, and reformist spirit.https://touchdigitalnews.com/people-said-i-am-pregnant-at-six/
In choosing Prevost, many Vatican watchers see a continuation of Francis’s vision, albeit with a different tone.
“He is a moderate consensus candidate — a gentle continuation of Pope Francis,” said François Mabille, a Vatican expert and author. “He won’t alienate conservatives, but he also won’t reverse the course.”
Still, Leo XIV is expected to be more cautious in style, less prone to the occasionally bold or divisive remarks that characterized his predecessor.
A Life Rooted in Service
Born on September 14, 1955, in Chicago, Illinois, Robert Francis Prevost is the son of Louis Marius Prevost and Mildred Martínez. Raised in a multicultural household with French, Italian, and Spanish roots, he was drawn to a life of faith early on.
He began his journey in the Catholic Church at the Minor Seminary of the Augustinian Fathers, later earning a degree in mathematics and studying philosophy at Villanova University. In 1977, he entered the Order of Saint Augustine and made his solemn vows in 1981.
Ordained a priest in Rome in 1982, Prevost pursued advanced studies in Canon Law before beginning what would become a defining chapter of his life — missionary work in Peru.
Pope Leo Missionary Work in Peru
Between 1985 and 1999, Prevost served in Peru’s poorest regions, where he ministered to underserved communities, taught theology, and led local parishes. He was also a judicial vicar, seminary professor, and spiritual guide to many in the Archdiocese of Trujillo.
His commitment to justice and education left a lasting legacy in the region. By 1999, he had returned to the U.S. to serve as Provincial Prior of his Augustinian province in Chicago, before being elected twice as Prior General of the global Augustinian Order.
From Bishop to Cardinal
In 2014, Pope Francis appointed Prevost as Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Chiclayo in northern Peru, eventually naming him its bishop. There, he continued his work on cultural and educational reform and served in key leadership roles within the Peruvian Episcopal Conference.
By 2020, Prevost had earned the Vatican’s full confidence. He was appointed to several influential dicasteries, including those overseeing bishops, clergy, doctrine, evangelization, and education.
His biggest promotion came in January 2023, when he was named Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops — one of the most powerful positions in the Roman Curia — and later became President of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America. In September 2024, he was created a cardinal.
As Cardinal Prefect, he played a critical role in recent Synods and accompanied Pope Francis on multiple apostolic journeys. Just this past February, Francis elevated him to the Order of Bishops, a final step before many speculated he could one day be pope.
A Pope for a Complex World
Now as Leo XIV, Prevost takes the helm of the Catholic Church at a time of global tension, internal division, and spiritual searching. His mission will be multifaceted: to heal divisions within the Church, address the lingering wounds of abuse scandals, and offer a moral compass in a world grappling with war, inequality, and cultural polarization.
Experts say his background — spanning theology, education, global leadership, and years of pastoral work in the Global South — makes him uniquely positioned to navigate these challenges.
“He represents both tradition and progress,” one Vatican analyst noted. “He has the global experience of a missionary and the institutional knowledge of a Vatican insider.”
Though not known for flamboyant statements or grand gestures, Leo XIV is expected to lead with steady hands and a pastoral heart. His motto, “In Illo uno unum” — Latin for “In the One, we are One” — speaks volumes about his approach: unity in diversity, anchored in Christ.
As the Church prepares for the Holy Year of Hope, all eyes will be on Pope Leo XIV — the quiet cardinal from Chicago who now wears the white robes of the papacy. His first steps may shape the Church for decades to come.