Gentle Reformer: Prevost Becomes First American Pope

Robert Francis Prevost: The First American Pope with Deep Roots in Peru and the Vatican

Robert Francis Prevost, now Pope Leo XIV, has become the first pontiff from the United States, bringing with him a rich legacy of missionary service in Peru and a deep understanding of the Catholic Church’s inner workings.

Originally from Chicago, Prevost was appointed by Pope Francis to lead the influential Dicastery for Bishops — the Vatican body responsible for advising the pope on bishop appointments worldwide. This pivotal role not only demonstrated Francis’s trust in him but also placed Prevost at the heart of Vatican decision-making.

Prevost’s reputation as a bridge-builder and moderate figure within the Roman Curia was shaped by his years of work in the "peripheries" — remote or underserved regions emphasized by Francis. His calm, thoughtful demeanor and global pastoral perspective earned him the label “the least American of the Americans” from Italy’s La Repubblica.

A cardinal since 2023, Prevost's background in canon law offered reassurance to more conservative elements in the Church, who appreciated his theological grounding. Following Francis’s death, he emphasized continuity and forward momentum, telling Vatican News: “We can't stop, we can't turn back. We have to see how the Holy Spirit wants the Church to be today and tomorrow.”

Born on September 14, 1955, in Chicago, Prevost joined the Order of St. Augustine as a novice in St. Louis and later earned a mathematics degree from Villanova University. After completing a Master of Divinity in Chicago and a doctorate in canon law in Rome, he began his first missionary trip to Peru in 1985, where he spent over a decade.

He returned to the U.S. in 1999 to serve as provincial prior for the Augustinians and later as the order’s worldwide leader. But his connection to Peru remained strong — in 2014, Pope Francis named him apostolic administrator of Chiclayo, a northern Peruvian diocese. He remained there until his 2023 appointment as head of the bishops’ dicastery, following Cardinal Marc Ouellet’s resignation.

Prevost also serves as president of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America, further cementing his ties to the region that shaped much of his priesthood.

Now, as Pope Leo XIV, he leads the global Church with a blend of pastoral care, theological insight, and international experience rooted in decades of service far from Rome’s center.