Opinion: Cardinal Robert Provost – First American Pope, Leo XIV

On May 8th, 2025, on the second day of the papal conclave, white smoke streamed from a chimney atop the Sistine Chapel, signaling to the world that at least two-thirds of the 133 Roman Catholic Cardinals inside voted to elect the 267th Pope from among the Cardinals, to lead the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics. A roar erupted from the crowd that had gathered, when they saw white smoke, and the enormous bells of St. Peter's Basilica began to ring, tolling the news that the Catholic Church has a new pope.

Vatican officials announced from the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica, the name he chose, Pope Leo XIV. The new Pope, U.S. Cardinal Robert Prevost, age 69, is the first American to ever lead the Roman Catholic Church. Prevost was born in Chicago and was an altar boy at St Mary of the Assumption Church. He became a member of the Order of St. Augustine, earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics at Villanova University, took his first vows as a priest in 1978, his solemn vows in 1981, and was awarded a Master of Divinity degree from the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago in 1982.

Prevost served as a parish pastor, diocesan official, seminary teacher and administrator, as Bishop of Chiclayo in Pero from 2015 to 2023, became a Cardinal in 2023, then served as prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops and president of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America. Pope Francis appointed Prevost as Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops, a key position within the Roman Curia, responsible for evaluating and recommending candidates for the episcopate around the world. This prominent role that increased his visibility and influence with the Catholic Church, elevating his profile as a future papal candidate.

Prevost speaks English, Spanish, Italian, French and Portuguese, and can read Latin and German. Catholics and other Christians around the world pray that he will always be blessed with great wisdom, that faith will always dwell in his heart, that his actions will be rooted and grounded in love, and that he will bring peace in our world with strength from the Holy Spirit.