Before his election as Pope Leo XIV, Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost was Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops. He is the 267th Bishop of Rome. He is the first pope ever from the United States.
How old is Pope Leo XIV?
As of 2025, Pope Leo is 69 years. He was born on September 14th,1995 in Chicago (Illinois, United States).
Family and education
Pope Leo XIV is son to Louis Marius Prevost of French and Italian descent, and Mildred Martinez of Spanish descent. He has two brothers: Louis Martin and John Joseph. He studied first at the Minor Seminary of the Augustinian Fathers and then at Villanova University in Pennsylvania where he earned a degree in Mathematics and also studied Philosophy. He entered the Augustinian Father’s Minor Seminary at the age of 14.
Pope Leo xiv received his theological education at The Catholic Theological Union in Chicago. At the age of 27, he was sent by his superiors to Rome to study Canon Law at the Pontifical Council of Interreligious Dialogue and then the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue.
Service
Pope Leo xiv has served in multiple positions, some being:
In September 2015, He was appointed Bishop of Chiclayo by Pope Francis. In March 2018, he was elected second vice-president of the Peruvian Episcopal Conference, where he also served as a member of the Economic Council and President of the Commission for Culture and Education.
In 2019, Pope Francis appointed him a member of the Congregation for the Clergy and in 2020, a member of the Congregation for Bishops. The same year, he was also appointed Apostolic Administrator of the Peruvian Diocese of Callao.
On January 30, 2023, the Pope called him to Rome as the Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops and president of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America, promoting him to the rank of Archbishop, among other positions over the years.
Appointment as new Pope
On Thursday, May 8th, 2025, white smoke announced to the world the election of a new successor of Peter. In the fourth ballot of the conclave, Robert Francis Prevost was elected the 267th Supreme Pontiff of the Catholic Church and took the name Leo XIV.
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