Habemus papam. With these words, the American cardinal Robert Francis Prevost was presented 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 of Robert Francis Prevost came just over an hour after white smoke emerged, in the early afternoon this Thursday, day 8, from the chimney installed above the Sistine Chapel, signaling that the 133 gathered cardinals had reached a consensus.
The election of the new pope occurred after the third ballot of the day and the fourth ballot overall, which began on Wednesday, day 7. 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 on this rock I will build my Church” or “Feed my sheep.” The protodeacon then offers a prayer for the newly elected pope.
Shortly after, all the electing cardinals, 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 origin, and Mildred Martínez, of Spanish origin. He has two brothers, Louis Martín and John Joseph. He completed secondary studies at the minor seminary of the Order of St. Augustine in 1973.
Prevost earned a Bachelor of Arts in mathematics from Villanova University in 1977. He joined the Augustinians on September 1, 1977, made his first vows on September 2, 1978, and solemn vows on August 29, 1981. The following year, he obtained a Master of Divinity from the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago.
Prevost was ordained a priest of the Order of St. Augustine in Rome on June 19, 1982. He obtained a license and 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 vocational pastor and director of missions for the Augustinian Province of Chicago. He then returned to Peru, where he spent the next ten years in charge 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 take office on March 8, 1999. Starting 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 Augustinian Monastery of St. John Stone in Chicago, despite its proximity to a Catholic elementary school. Ray received a monitor while residing there, and the school was not notified. He was transferred to another residence in 2002, when ecclesiastical authorities adopted stricter rules for priests accused of abusing minors. In 2001, Prevost was elected for a six-year term as prior general of the Augustinians. He was elected for a second six-year term in 2007. From 2013 to 2014, Prevost served as director of formation at the St. Augustine Convent in Chicago, as well as first counselor and provincial vicar of the Province of Our Lady of Good Counsel, which covers the U.S. Midwest. 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 Peruvian Episcopal Conference, Prevost was part of the permanent council for the 2018-2020 biennium. He was elected president of the Education and Culture Commission in 2019. He was also a member of the board of Caritas Peru. 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 12, 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 suburban see of Albano.
Prevost was considered a possible papal candidate. In 2023, Pope Francis appointed him prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops, a key position in the Roman Curia. The office is responsible for evaluating and recommending candidates for the episcopate worldwide. The role increased Prevost’s visibility and influence within the Catholic Church, potentially elevating his profile ahead of any future papal conclave.
Prevost faced criticism from activists defending clerical abuse survivors for his handling of sexual abuse allegations during his leadership in the Augustinian order and in Peru. The advocacy group SNAP (Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests) claimed 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.